A SERMON BY THE FIFTH RIGHTLY GUIDED CALIPH, UMAR BIN ABDUL AZIZ
In the first sermon Umar bin Abdul Aziz delivered after becoming a Caliph, he praised Allah and invoked Him for peace and blessings upon His Messenger(pbuh). Then he said:
“O people! Correct your inner selves and your outer selves will be corrected, as well. Set aright the affairs of your Hereafter and your life will be set aright for you. Verily, someone who does not have any living father between him and Adam is indeed close to death!”
The Virtue of the Statement there is La ilaha illallah (No deity is worthy of worship except Alláh)
All praise is due to Alláh, Who opened the doors of knowledge to those who strived in His worship by granting them the key that is Lá iláha illallah (there is no deity worthy of worship except Alláh). He resurrected the hearts of the knowledgeable worshippers and filled the cups of those who always remember Him from the fountain of Lá iláha illallah. He perfected the creation, brought them into existence and sealed this perfection with Lá iláha illallah. He Who created the fetus from a worthless fluid (semen) so that mankind may worship Him with Lá iláha illalláh. He has sent the Messengers to deliver the good news of this Word Lá iláha illalláh and warn against whatever contradicts it; they called all mankind to adhere to its implications. Lá iláha illalláh is the pillar of the religion and the Thick Rope of Alláh; those who adhere to Lá iláha illalláh will never earn failure. Verily, the minds of the ignorant ones were led astray and the hearts of the stubborn infidels have earned misguidance on account of their taking two gods, even after the full moon of Lá iláha illallah has risen.
I thank and praise Alláh for making us among the people of Lá iláha illalláh and 1 bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Alláh Alone Who has no partners. I bear witness that Muhammad is Allah’s slave and Messenger through whom Alláh has resurrected what faded away of the aspects of Lá iláha illalláh. Yet, Alláh said to His Prophet:
“So know (O Muhammad (pbuh)) that Lá iláha illalláh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah).”(47:19)
Muhammad(pbuh) embraced this word and declared it, all the while using it as the basis of giving loyalty or showing enmity. He said in an authentic Hadith:
“I have been ordered to fight the people till they say: ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Alláh.’ And if they say so, then their blood and property will be sacred to me, except for the right of Lá iláha illalláh (such as executing the murderer, stoning the adulterer, and so forth).”
The Prophet(pbuh) called to Alláh in secret and public, by night and by day, until the unjust veil that shielded Lá iláha illalláh was removed. O Alláh! Send Your best peace and blessings on Your slave and Messenger, Muhammad , and on his progeny and Companions who protected Lá iláha illalláh with their own lives.
“O people! Fear Alláh the Exalted and renew your faith by night and by day by contemplating the indications of Lá iláha illalláh. O you who have wisdom and fruitful efforts, seek your means of success that is only granted to the people of Lá iláha illalláh.
Surely, Lá iláha illalláh is the Word of Islam and the key to the Dwelling of Peace (Paradise). Verily, the heavens and earth would never have remained, nor would performing the necessary and recommended :Sunnah acts avail, nor would anyone acquire safety on the Day of Gathering except by Lá ilaha illalláh. The swords of Jihád would not be held, nor the Messengers be sent to the slaves, except to teach them the meaning and practices of Lá iláha illalláh. This is when humankind divided into two parts and went two separate ways: a group of them adhered to Lá iláha illalláh and the other group strayed away from it. They refused it because they knew that the religion of their ancestors would be annulled if they embraced Lá iláha illalláh. All praise is due to He Who made His slaves different from each other with His Wisdom and Will. Indeed, this is one of the proofs to Lá ilaha illalláh. Tuba (a tree in Paradise) is for those who know the meaning of this Testimonial, agree with it and practice its implication inwardly and outwardly. By doing so, they would be realizing and tasting the true essence of Lá iláha illalláh. Verily, woe to those who were driven by the devil to faIl into polytheism. They became filled to the top with associating others with Alláh in worship and consequently refused with arrogance to submit to Lá ilaha illalláh. Have you not heard Alláh’s Statement:
“And those whom they invoke instead of Him have no power of intercession – except for those who bear witness to the truth knowingly (i.e., believed in the Oneness of Alláh, and obeyed His Orders), and they know (the facts about the Oneness of Allah).” (43:86)
The true essence of Lá iláha illalláh entails directing all acts of worship, intentions and thoughts to Alláh Alone rather than any other worshipped object. All other objects of worship were annulled and refuted by Lá ilaha illalláh. This is what is meant by disbelieving in Taghut and believing in Alláh Alone, and this is how the heart is purified of anything that is not for Alláh Alone, and cleansed from the intention to commit whatever Alláh has prohibited or dislike for whatever He has commanded. This is the true essence of Lá ilaha illalláh, contrary to the practice of those who utter this testimonial with their words, but contradict it with their actions. These people do not benefit from saying La iláha illallah.
Directing any act of worship to other than Alláh and associating any among the creation with Him in worship are acts of disbelief, even if one pronounced La iláha illalláh a thousand times with his tongue. It was once said to Al Hasan Al-Basri:
Some people say that those who proclaim La ilaha illalláh shall enter Paradise.” He said, “Yes. For those who proclaim this word and fulfill its implications and requirements, then saying La iláha illalláh shall enter them into Paradise.”
In addition, Wahb bin Munbih asked:
“Is not La iláha illalláh the key to Paradise?” He said, “Yes. However, every key has teeth; if you use a key that has teeth it will open for you, otherwise it will not open.”
Therefore, these types of people will not benefit from proclaiming La iláha illalláh because they do not say it from their hearts. We advise you, O Muslims, to never think that Shirk (Polytheism, which contradicts La iláha illalláh) is far away from you, because there are tremendous hindrances and lures that seek to corrupt the sincerity of your uttering La iláha illalláh.
Where are those who associate none with Alláh regards to love, fear, hope and worship? Where are those who direct their humbleness, submissiveness, reverence, intention and reliance to Alláh Alone, all the while trusting in Him for each and every thing? All these qualities are parts of the meaning of La iláha illalláh. o slaves of Alláh, rush to the forgiveness of your Lord and a paradise as wide as the heavens and earth prepared for the Muttaqin (the pious). They are those who fulfill the duties and responsibilities of La iláha illalláh. They are those who have not placed any other iláh (god) along with Alláh. Verily, I am a plain warner to you from Him. Hold on to the pillars of La iláha illalláh. Surely, those who reject what La iláha illalláh rejects, assert what it asserts and offer their loyalty or enmity on its account, then this word will elevate them to the highest grades the grades of La ilaha illallah:
“The Day that Ar-Rúh [Jibril (Gabriel) or another angel] and the angels will stand forth in rows, they will not speak except him whom the Most Gracious (Allah) allows, and he will speak what is right.” (78:38)
May Alláh direct us all to the blessings of the Noble Qurán and benefit us in whatever is in it of the Áyát and Wise Dhikr. I say this and ask Alláh the Great, and the Most Honored for forgiveness for me, you and all Muslims for every sin. Seek His forgiveness, for He is the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
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