Sheikh Ali ibn Abdur-Rahman Al-Hudhaifi – 23 Dhul-Hijjah 1435

His Eminence Sheikh Ali ibn Abdur-Rahman Al-Hudhaifi, may Allah preserve him, delivered the Friday Khutbah entitled, “Reflecting on the Worldly Life”, in which he talked about the true meaning of the worldly life and man’s brief stay in it, showing that this should prompt every Muslim to take advantage of his time by doing acts of obedience to Allah and avoiding evil deeds. In the course of his stirring sermon, he cited a number of Qur’anic verses and Prophetic Hadiths to substantiate these ideas.

Praise be to Allah, the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving. He causes the night to succeed the day and the day to succeed the night and everything with Him is in due proportions. I praise my Lord and thank Him for His favours and His grace. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, Who has no partners, the One, the All-Dominant, and I bear witness that our prophet and master, Muhammad, is His servant and chosen messenger. O Allah! Bestow Your prayers, peace, and blessings upon Your servant and messenger Muhammad and upon his family and righteous Companions.

Now then, Fear Allah, Exalted be He, and obey Him, for obedience to Allah is the soundest and most upright way. Take provisions for the hereafter and know that the best provision is fear of Allah.

Servants of Allah!
If you think deeply about this transient worldly life, its despicable ornaments, and its ever-changing nature, you will realize its real worth and true meaning. He who trusts it will be deceived, and he who is inclined to it will be doomed. This world is as short as one’s life in it. One’s life starts with a few hours, which are followed by further hours, then days, then months, and then years. Then life comes to an end, and nobody knows about the horrifying matters that await him after his death.

O Man! Are the lives of others after your death an extension of your own life? A man’s life is but a single moment compared with the life of successive generations, and even this present life in its entirety is nothing but a brief enjoyment. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

“…Truly, this life of the world is nothing but a (quick passing) enjoyment, and verily, the Hereafter that is the home that will remain forever.” (Ghafir: 39)

Allah, Exalted be He, also says: “And put forward to them the example of the life of this world; it is like the water (rain) which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it, and becomes fresh and green. But (later) it becomes dry and broken pieces, which the winds scatter. And Allah is Able to do everything.” (Al-Kahf: 45)

Our Lord informs us about the brevity of people’s stay in their graves until the day they are resurrected for judgement. He tells us that this long period will seem to them on the Day of Judgement like an hour. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

“And on the Day when He shall gather (resurrect) them together, (it will be) as if they had not stayed (in the life of this world and graves) but an hour of a day. They will recognize each other. …” (Yunus: 45)

Allah, Exalted be He, also says: “And on the Day that the Hour will be established, the Mujrimun (criminals, disbelievers, polytheists, sinners) will swear that they stayed not but an hour – thus were they ever deluded [away from the truth (i.e. they used to tell lies and take false oaths, and turn away from the truth) in this life of the world].” (Ar-Rum: 55)

Allah, Exalted be He, also says: “Therefore be patient (O Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)) as did the Messengers of strong will and be in no haste about them (disbelievers). On the Day when they will see that (torment) with which they are promised (i.e. threatened, it will be) as if they had not stayed more than an hour in a single day. (O Humankind! This Qur’an is sufficient as) a clear Message (or proclamation to save yourself from destruction). But shall any be destroyed except the people who are Al-Fasiqun (the rebellious against Allah’s command, disobedient to Allah).” (Al-Ahqaf: 35)

O Man! How long will you then live when it is all like an hour in a single day? And what is your share in this hour? Blessed, then, are those who do good deeds and shun prohibited acts, for that will win them the good pleasure of Allah and the delights of the gardens of Paradise. And wretched are those who follow their lusts and neglect their prayers and all religious obligations, as they will be doomed to the lowest depths of Hellfire.

O You who have been deluded by your good health, and therefore have disobeyed your Lord! O You who have been corrupted by your free time, and therefore have engaged in distractions! O You who have failed to stand the test of your wealth, and therefore have ruined yourself! O You who have followed your evil whims and desires, and therefore have fallen into sin! O you who have been deceived by your youth, and therefore have forgotten about death! O you who have dared to disobey your Lord because you feel that you still have time to live and hopes to fulfil! When death snatches you away, you will wish to return to this world to do deeds other than those you used to do, but in vain!

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Remember the destroyer of pleasures [i.e. death], for it is not remembered amidst many pleasures but it makes them seem little [thus saving one from indulging in pleasures and making one closer to Allah], and it is not remembered amidst few pleasures but it makes them seem many.” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, also said, “Death is sufficient as an admonition.”

O you who are heedless, neglectful and disobedient! Is it not time for you to turn to your Lord in repentance? Is it not time to wake up from your deep sleep and respond to the call of Allah? Will you not draw lessons from the previous generations and deserted dwellings? Will you not draw lessons from those who left all their grandeur and glory and have now become history?

There are lessons and morals to be drawn from the coming and passing of years. You will continue to leave a day behind and welcome another until your appointed time is over and your hopes come to an end. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

“And that man can have nothing but what he does (good or bad). And that his deeds will be seen. Then he will be recompensed with a full and the best recompense. And that to your Lord (Allah) is the End (Return of everything).” (An-Najm: 39-42)

Therefore, strive to enter Paradise, the eternal abode whose bliss will never end, decrease, or perish, and about which Allah says:
“Enter you therein in peace and security; this is a Day of eternal life!” There they will have all that they desire, and We have more.” (Qaf: 34-35)

And strive to escape Hellfire, whose torment of its dwellers will never abate, by obeying Allah’s certain command and avoiding his great wrath. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “…Then as for those who disbelieve, garments of fire will be cut out for them, boiling water will be poured down over their heads. With it will melt (or vanish away) what is within their bellies, as well as (their) skins. And for them are hooked rods of iron (to punish them). Every time they seek to get away therefrom, from anguish, they will be driven back therein, and (it will be) said to them: “Taste the torment of burning!” (Al-Hajj: 19-22)

Allah, Exalted be He, also says:
“… and send (good deeds, or ask Allah to bestow upon you pious offspring) for your ownselves beforehand. And fear Allah, and know that you are to meet Him (in the Hereafter), and give good tidings to the believers (O Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)).” (Al- Baqarah: 223)

May Allah bless you and me with the Great Qur’an and make us benefit from its verses and wise words and benefit from the guidance and right sayings of the Imam of all Messengers. I have said what you have heard and I ask forgiveness of Allah for myself, for you, and for all Muslims for any sin we have committed. Ask Allah for forgiveness. He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.