Friday sermon – Al Noor masjid

The Muslim call to prayer sounded out over Christchurch and around New Zealand on Friday, as thousands gathered to remember the 50 people killed by a lone gunman at two mosques a week ago.

Following is the text of the sermon given by Imam Gamal Fouda of the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch.

First Sermon (Khutbah):

Last Friday I stood in this mosque and saw the hatred and the rage in the eyes of the terrorist who killed and martyred 50 innocent people, wounded 42, and broke the hearts of millions around the world.

Today from the same place I look out and I see the love and compassion in the eyes of thousands of fellow New Zealanders and human beings from across the globe, that fill the hearts of millions more who are not with us physically, but in spirit.

This terrorist sought to tear our nation apart with an evil ideology that has torn the world apart. But instead we have shown that New Zealand is unbreakable, and that the world can see in us an example of love and unity.

We are broken hearted, but we are not broken. We are alive. We are together. We are determined to not let anyone divide us. We are determined to love one another, and to support each other.

This evil ideology of white supremacy did not strike us first, yet it struck us hardest. The number of people killed is not ordinary, but the solidarity in New Zealand is extra ordinary.

To the families of the victims, your loved ones did not die in vain. Their blood has watered the seeds of hope. Through them, the world will see the beauty of Islam, and the beauty of our unity.

And Allah the Almighty says “do not say of those who have been killed in the way of Allah that they are dead, they are alive rejoicing with their Lord.”

They were the best of us, taken from us on the best of days, in the best of places and performing the best of actions.

And they are not just martyrs of Islam, but they are martyrs for this nation.

Our loss of you, is a gain to New Zealand’s unity and strength.

Your departure is an awakening not just for our nation, but for all humanity.

Your martyrdom is a new life for New Zealand and a chance of prosperity for many.

Our assembly here, with all the shades of our diversity is a testament of our joint humanity.

We are here in our hundreds and thousands unified for one purpose – That hate will be undone, and love will redeem us.

We are taught by our Prophet Muhammed peace and blessings be upon him that you can never truly show gratitude to the Almighty God, if you are incapable of thanking your fellow man.

To the people of New Zealand – Thank you.

Thank you for your tears.

Thank you for your Haka.

Thank you for your flowers.

Thank you for your love and compassion.

To our prime minister – thank you.

Thank you for your leadership, it has been a lesson for the world’s leaders.

Thank you for holding our families close and honoring us with a simple scarf.

Thank you for your words and tears of compassion.

Thank you for being one with us.

Thank you to the New Zealand government and to all the wonderful people who have shown us that we matter and are not forgotten.

Thank you to our police force and front-line services.

You put our lives before your own every day.

Thank you to the neighbors who opened their doors to save us from the killer.

Thank you to those who pulled over their cars to help us.

Thank you to those who brought us food and held us when we found it difficult to stand.

Thank you New Zealand for teaching the world what it means to love and care.

To my brothers and sisters, those who are here today to perform the weekly Friday prayer.

Thank you for coming together once again. It is easy to feel lost after the trauma you and I experienced. But the promise of Allah made to us is true:

“Give glad news to the patient – Those who when afflicted they say, To Allah we all belong, and to Him we shall return. They are those upon whom God’s Mercy descends”.

Thank you for your strength and your forgiveness. Thank you for your anger that is restrained and for your mercy that is over-flowing.

Thank you for your steadfastness and standing tall when many others would fall.

Second Sermon (Khutbah)

Islamophobia KILLS. Muslims have felt its pain for many years. It has killed before in Canada and its brutality was used against teens in Norway and against innocent Muslims in the U.K., USA and other countries around the world.

Islamophobia is REAL. It is a targeted campaign to influence people to dehumanize and irrationally fear Muslims.

To fear what we wear. To fear the choice of food we eat. To fear the way we pray and to fear the way we practice our faith.

We call upon governments around the world to bring an end to hate speech and the politics of fear.

The martyrdom of 50 innocent people and the injury of 42 last Friday did not come over night. It was the result of the anti-Islamic and anti-Muslim rhetoric by some political leaders, some media agencies and others.

Last week’s event is proof and evidence to the entire world that terrorism has no color, has no race and has no religion.

The rise of white supremacy and right-wing extremism is a great global threat to mankind AND THIS MUST END NOW!

I want to take this opportunity to thank my Muslim and non-Muslim brothers and sisters for attending today and I would also like to thank our international guests who are with us and had come to our support and aid in these difficult times and moments.

SUPPLICATION (DUA’A)

O’ Allah have mercy upon us all.

O’ Allah have mercy upon those who were massacred last week.

O’ Allah grant them the highest level of paradise.

O’ Allah grant the injured a speedy recovery and grant the families of the victims patience.

O’ Allah grant our nation and country New Zealand peace, security and protect it and its people from all evils.

O’ Allah grant the entire world peace, security and prosperity.

God defend our free land, God defend New Zealand.

As the Eid Greetings start…

Beware…

As your phone goes into meltdown with Eid greetings, and as you rush around to prepare for Eid tomorrow beware of this distraction that robs you of the final precious hours of Ramadan. Make time even if a little between now and maghrib to cut off all distractions, turn to Allah and make heartfelt duas for Him to accept your Ramadan and save you from disgrace on the day of Judgement and the hellfire and to enter you into the eternal gardens of peace by His Mercy. Pray for yourself your parents your families and the Ummah.

Weep, plead and beg in these golden moments that will not return for another year

Actions are determined by how we finish so let’s make up for our shortcomings and deficiencies that we had this month in these last few hours of this most amazing and blessed of months.

Eid Mubarak

Eid Mubarak to all my brothers & sisters. May Allah ﷻ bless you all in abundance Ameen.

Asking forgiveness from friends on the night of salvation

MAS’ALA ON ASKING FORGIVENESS FROM FRIENDS ON SHABE BARA’AH (THE NIGHT OF SALVATION)
By Shaykh Abdul Raheem hafizahullah
There are texts going around asking people for forgiveness. Here are four points to take into account:
1) The tongue should always be kept under control. Dont hurt anyone. Keep the heart clean. If it’s clean then there’s no need to ask forgiveness from people.
Hadith 1: ‘Dont say something for which you would have to apologise the next day.
Remember! The heart is the king of the body. If the heart is under control, then the tongue, the eyes and ears etc will also be under control. The heart is the engine which drives the whole body.
Hadith 2: ‘A Jannati is he who’s heart is cleansed and who’s tongue is truthful.’
Hadith 3: ‘A Muslim is he from whose tongue and hands other Muslims feel safe.’
2) We are human beings. If we were to hurt someone’s feelings, we should ask for forgiveness immediately. We should not wait for Shabe Bara’ah!

STORY:
The father of Abdullah ibn Mubarak Rahmatullahi Alayhi was once travelling. He passed by a garden where he saw an apple lying around. He picked it up and ate it as he was hungry. He immediately realised that he ate the apple without the owners permission. So he quickly went to the owner of the garden to ask for forgiveness. The owner owner noticed his piety and said: “I will only forgive you if you marry my daughter who is deaf, dumb, and blind.” He tried to wriggle his way out. But then he realised there is no other option so he agreed in order to get the forgiveness. He married her. She turned out to be perfectly healthy and Allah Taala granted them a pious child who we today remember as Abdullah Bin Mubarak Rahmatullahi Alayhi.
Imam Bukhari Rahmatullahi Alayhi was once practicing archery. He mistakenly hit someone’s small bridge and damaged it. He sat there and sent students to find the owner so he could pay for the damage. However, the owner forgave him. Imam Bukhari got so happy that he sat with the students and taught them extra lessons. 
So if any mistake happens, apologise there and then immediately. 

3) One should fulfil ‘Huqooqul Ibaad’ (the rights of the people) i.e the debts, inheritance matters, stolen goods, those taken by mistake, etc should be returned to the rightful owner.
Hadith: ‘Whoever owes some rights, whether monetary or to do with honour, should have them sorted out before a day comes in which there is no Dinaar or Dirham. If one has good deeds the person will be given, if not their sins will be taken and loaded on him’

4) People say our actions are closed on this blessed night.

This is a misconception. Books close at the time of death. The truth is that during Sha’baan, the guidelines for the following year are handed over to the angels. E.g Rains, crops, births, deaths, etc.. are finalised. Meaning that the guardians of Lawhe Mahfooz pass on the decisions for the following year to the angels of the lower level. This noting down and passing on continues until Laylatul Qadr, when everything is completed. 

SUMMARY:
1) Heart should be clean at all times.
2) Don’t wait for Shabe Bara’ah to ask for forgiveness from friends.
3) Major huqooqul ibaad such as debts, meerath, etc should be returned swiftly.
4) Book of deeds is not closed on Shabe Bara’ah, but decisions are noted down from Lawhe mahfooz and matters are finalised. 

Finally, Hadhrat Shaykh Zakariyyah Rahmatullahi alayhi says one should be really fearful on this night. Similar to the condition of a person in who’s name a warrant has been issued and is scared of the police who are after him. Our death warrant has been issued and the angel of death is after us. So we should be on our best behaviour to seek pardon from Allah swt. 

May Allah note our names among the pious when He decides to take back our souls.

May Allah forgive us and be pleased with us.

May Allah make the best decisions for us and for the whole Muslim Ummah. 
Ameen

Dhikr on the Road

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Imagine if you recited 100 durood each day in the car, over the year this would equate to 36,500!

Sandstorm in Makkah

O Allah Protect and keep safe those who are gathered for Hajj, ameen.
#Makkah
#sandstorm

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Free Minutes

Its been a while since I have posted anything written up by myself but unfortunately with study, family and work there just seems to be little time to sit down and think.  Anyway, I started this post a long time ago but never got around to completing and publishing it.  I will share the post as it is with a few amendments to it here and there in the hope that I, and yourselves can benefit from it.

Whilst I was at University a few years ago, there was a mobile contract ‘everyday 50’ where 50 free mins off peak daily were given.  Off peak time would start (7pm) and the network would jam up and in some cases you would have problems trying to dial out.  Everyone would so keenly utilise these free minutes they had to the point the network.

Thinking about life, each day we are given ‘free minutes’, but do we utilise these minutes as religiously as we might use the free minutes we get on our mobile?  Do we also show as much determination to perform our salah on time?  Networks might jam up at peak times but unfortunately the Masjids are empty at congregational prayer times.

After the 50 free mins are used up, calls were charged at 1p a min.  In our mind a quick cost benefit analysis and we would make calls even at this rate because the pleasure or benefit we get is deemed greater than the cost.  Sadly we dont have this mentality when it comes performing a’amaal and Ibadaat.

We have been awarded additional voluntary prayers during the course of our day, but do we take stock to reflect on the benefits and rewards we would get for performing them?  Or do we pretend and inflate the cost of our time and pursue worthless and worldly pursuits instead?  Do we even really have to be ‘sold’ in order to perform good deeds instead of doing them for the love of Allah and His messenger?

These days free text messages are also given away as part of mobile phone tariffs.  This allows us to keep in touch with friends/ colleagues easily and within a few seconds we can communicate a message across the globe.

Do we take a few seconds out during our day to send a message to Allah or His Rasul (peace and blessings upon him) in the form of dhikr or Durood?  All one needs to do is say Allahu Akbar or Sallahu alayhi wasallam to complete the task.

Lastly, we would be ashamed if we paid money for the mobile contracts and tariffs we have and we never used the free minutes and texts we got wisely.  Why then don’t we feel ashamed of the free minutes in life that we have been given but we waste them in idle pastimes and pursuits.

May Allah Almighty give us the ability to make good use of our time, ameen.

Please remember me, my family and teachers in your du’as.

Wasalam

originally posted Mar 18th, 2010

Cold start

Assalamalaykum,
As the winter sets in, the mornings are dark, cold possibly even wet, it’s tempting to just stay in bed.

Alhumdulillah, we have the means, ability & opportunity to go work with our own hands, earn and provide for ourself and family. Don’t forget this blessing of Allah.

Jazakallah

Assalam Alaykum,

Just a quick message to say Jazakallah for all your duas for me and my family, some of you have left comments to this effect whilst others have just remembered us in their duas….  It is very much appreciated in what has been a tough few months.

I shall be travelling soon, so things may quieten down a little here, but please take the time to browse the rest of the site and look at the older and beneficial material too.

Please continue to remember us in your duas and do assist us in whatever way you can.

Wasalam Alaykum
Brother Ahmed

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