Topic: Dawa Seminar

Speaker: Imam John Ederer

Date: 31st March 2012

Any religion, to have the desired impact of rectifying and improving society, must start with the individual. And some individuals will stop at nothing unless they are literally threatened with torture- in other words, they won’t comply with the rules unless they feel like their actions have major consequences. The religion of Islam seeks to moderate and control the wayward tendencies of people. As the religion of human nature, it enjoins everything that is conducive to our well-being and rejects all that is foreign to our natures, or useless, or ultimately destructive. Islam was ordained by the Creator of the heavens and the earth for the benefit and success of mankind. Whoever follows it will lead an exemplary life. But how to maintain order in an unchecked world where greed, covetousness, and desires run rampant?

All human societies have recognized the need to make rules to maintain law and order. They all agree that legislation must exist in order to achieve some level of stability. People must know that there are certain boundaries that may not be crossed. Of course, it follows, there must be consequences for deviant behavior. Without enforcement, the laws would be meaningless, a farce- and the world, a jungle. The thief must be aware that he could face prosecution and a possible prison term for his misconduct. It is ironic that even those who steal detest stealing. How would a thief feel if the loot he just made off with was snatched from under his nose? So, it is universally agreed that stealing has no place in civil society and should be condemned and outlawed by any and all means. It is considered a heinous, despicable act even by those who practice it. With such a unanimous consensus that theft is not to be tolerated, religion must dissuade people from it in the most absolute, unequivocal terms. Not just any threat will do. It must scare people away from even contemplating it. So, the hand of the thief is to be cut off. If this punishment was carried out en masse, I believe stealing would soon be a thing of the past. Of course, this justifiably harsh sentence does not apply to the petty thief, or to theft involving a minor, or to one who steals out of desperate need. It is only to be applied to the one who steals out of sheer greed, heartlessness, and haughtiness, feeling himself more deserving of other peoples’ things than their rightful owners.

Islam categorically condemns selfishness, double-faced dealing, and taking undue advantage of others. While an ounce of faith is enough to enter heaven, an ounce of pride is enough to bar you from it forever. Believers are supposed to be kind and sympathetic toward others, and never cross the bounds into tyranny and oppression. Islam puts great emphasis on the merits of good behavior. Many sayings of the Prophet (pbuh) stress this all-important characteristic of the Muslim. One ‘hadeeth’ says, "a Muslim is the one who you are safe from his hand and from his tongue.” And, of course, the all-famous ‘hadeeth’ that says, ‘no one truly believes unless he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” If everyone on earth universally practiced this one precept of Islam, brutality, oppression, cruelty and the like would be a thing of the past.

Last sermon of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

This sermon was delivered on the Ninth Day of Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah Year 632 A.C (10 A.H.) in the ‘Uranah valley of Mount Arafat’ in Mecca.

After praising and thanking Allah the Prophet (saws) said:

“O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying very carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today.

O People, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that he will indeed reckon your deeds. Allah has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all interest obligations shall henceforth be waived. Your capital is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity. Allah has judged that there shall be no interest and that all the interest due to Abbas ibn ‘Abd’al Muttalib [the Prophet's uncle] be waived.

Every right arising out of homicide in pre-islamic days is henceforth waived and the first such right that i waive is that arising from the murder of Rabiah ibn al Harithibn.

O People, the unbelievers indulge in tampering with the calender in order to make permissible that which Allah forbade, and to forbid that which Allah has made permissible. With Allah the months are twelve in number. Four of them are holy, three of these are successive and one occurs singly between the months of Jumada and Shaban.

Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope of that he will be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.

O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah’s trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right, then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with anyone of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste. O People, listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, say your five daily prayers, fast during the month of Ramadhan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to.

All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over a white – except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not therefore do injustice to yourselves. Remember one day you will meet Allah and answer your deeds. So beware: do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.

O People, no prophet or apostle will come after me, and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand my words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Qur’an and my Sunnah and if you follow these you will never go astray.

All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness, O Allah, that I have conveyed Your message to Your people.”