Friday Sermon at James Cook University Hospital.

First Azan

Salam

Second azan

Innal hamda Lillaahi nahmaduhu wa nasta’eenahu wa nastaghfiruhu, wa na’oodhu billaahi min shuroori anfusinaa wa min sayi’aa ti a’maalinaa. Man yahdih Illaahu falaa mudilla lahu wa man yud lil falaa haadiya lah. Wa ashhadu an laa ilaaha il llaah wahdahu la sharika lahu wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasooluhu.

Praise be to Allaah, we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, the One, with no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Amma ba'd

O ye who believe! Be conscious of Allah as He should be, and die not except in the state of Islam.

Allah will direct you to righteous deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messanger has indeed achieved a great achievement.

InshaAllah today i will speak briefly about an issue that affects everyone in this room, our family friends , both muslims and non muslims. The issue is trials and tribulations in our life, and the sadness that comes with it.

Nobody can ever say he or she has never been sad. There are always times when we are tried by Allah with lost of someone beloved, family problems, financial difficulties, or health problems even. In a greater sense, some of us might be saddened by the problems in our home countries, with famine in Somalia, war in Libya, and endless oppression in Palestine.

So sometimes we asked ourselves, when we are in the greatest despair, is there any reasons for these all? Any justifications, any consolations?

Alhamdulillah, my muslim brothers i assure you, there are. The quran has given us answers, it is only for us to look for it.

We ask ourselves , WHY ALLAH tests us? Allah answers;

1) to remind us of Him

Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, We believe, and not be tried? And certainly We tried those before them, so Allah will certainly know those who are true and He will certainly know the liars. (al ankabut:2-3)

2. To increase his love for us

And Allah loves As-Sabirun (the patient ones)” Al Imran 146]

3) To give us glad tidings:

“And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sâbirin (the patient ones, etc.)” al Baqarah 155

We may ask ourselves, why these happens to me? and Allah replies

it may be that you dislike a thing, but it is good for you and that you like a thing, but it is bad for you. and Allah knows, but we do not know. al baqarah 216

When we are saddened we might also ask, why the burdens, the sadness is this heavy upon us?

Allah replies,

Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope. He gets reward for that (good) which he has earned, and he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned. al baqarah 216

Aqu lu qawli hadha wastaghfirullah li wa lakum.

Sit and supplicate

Stand up

AlHamdulillah was Salatu Wassalamu ‘ala Rasulullah

So during the sadness, what do we we do? what are Allah's advices to us?

1. Seek Allah's help with patience and prayers:

Allah says “And seek help in patience and As-Salah and truly it is extremely heavy and hard except for humbly submissive [to Allah ]” Al-Baqarah 45].

2. The Prophet had also taught us how to supplicate during distress;

“Inna-lillahi wa'inna ilayhi raji'un. Allahumma-juri fi museebati wa akhlif li khairan minha

To Allah we belong, and to Him is our Return. O Allah! Take me out of my plight and replace it with something which is better” [ Sahih Muslim; book 2: hadith 632]

Lastly, remember always Allah's promise to the people he tests;

“For indeed, with every hardship [there will be] ease. Indeed, with hardship [there will be] ease.” [ al Inshirah: 5-6]

“No calamity occurs, but by the permission of Allah, and whosoever believes in Allah, He guides his heart. And Allah is the All-Knower of everything” at-Taghabun 11]

DUA

Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala ali Muhammad, kama sallaiyta ‘ala Ibrahim wa ‘ala ali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majeed.

Rabbana athina fiddunya hasanah wa fil akhirati hasanah wa kina azabannar.

Aqimis sollah.