Khutbah by Shaykh Usaamah Khayyaat
O people! Be fearful of Allah and repent to Him in order to be successful. Indeed successful is the one who fears Allah, and takes provisions from his life for the Hereafter.
Dear Muslims! The conflict between truth and falsehood is a definite one which was decreed by Allah to be eternal; this conflict is between the people of faith and the disbelievers, the truth and falsehood and guidance and misguidance.
This conflict is not a new phenomenon; rather it is an ongoing chain of events which has existed throughout the history of mankind. This conflict represents the uprising of good against evil regardless of the shape it takes, the numbers of people who participate and the amount of military hardware that is used. Indeed this conflict is ever-present regardless of the banner which the evil people raise or fight under.
This conflict has its roots as far back as mankind has existed, as we have been informed about in the Qur’an, as reminders, lessons and admonitions.
l An example of this is the story of Prophet Ibraaheem, peace be upon him, with his disbelieving people when he endeavoured to make them refrain from idol-worship and thereby rescue them from the clear misguidance that they were living in, so that Allah would be the only One worshipped on earth. Ibraheem’s people reacted to this in the harshest and most evil manner by devising a plot to throw him into a fire and burn him alive. But Allah supported him and averted the plot of the disbelievers.
Allah tells us about this event in the Qur’an stating that the believers will always be victorious, and that the disbelievers will always face defeat. Allah says in the Qur’an that which translates as: “They said: ‘Burn him and support your gods – if you are to act’. We [i.e. Allah] said: ‘O fire! Be coolness and safety upon Abraham’. And they intended for him a plan [i.e., harm], but we made them the greatest losers.” (Al-Anbiyaa’: 68-70).
l A second example is the story of Prophet Moosaa, peace be upon him, who represented the truth against Pharaoh and his soldiers, who had raised the banner of falsehood. Pharaoh’s arrogance reached to the level that he started saying to his people (that which translates as): “I am your most exalted lord” (An-Naazi’aat: 24), and he also said (that which translates as): “I have not known you to have a god other than me.” (Al-Qasas: 38) Pharaoh threatened to severely punish the followers of the truth by saying (that which translates as): “We will kill their sons and keep their women alive…” (Al-A’raaf: 127).
However, the will of Allah was that the believers overcame Pharaoh and his soldiers who were drowned in the sea, as Allah says that which translates as: “Then We inspired to Moses: ‘Strike with your staff the sea’, and it parted, and each portion was like a towering mountain. And We advanced thereto the others [i.e., the pursuers]. And We saved Moses and those with him, all together. Then we drowned the others. Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers. And indeed, your Lord – He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.” (Ash-Shu’araa’: 63-68).
As for the oppressed believers of the people of Moosaa, peace be upon him, this was a great favour from Allah upon them, to grant them victory and make them rulers, as Allah says that which translates as: “And We wanted to confer favour upon those who were oppressed in the land and make them leaders and make them inheritors.” (Al-Qasas: 5).
l A third example of this eternal struggle between truth and falsehood which was perhaps the most intense of them all, is the struggle between our Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, and Abu Jahl and the other leaders of Quraysh who thought with their limited minds that they could extinguish the light of guidance of Allah with their mouths, and overcome the truth. The outcome of this was nothing other than victory for the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, and his companions, which Allah always grants to the followers of the truth. Sure enough, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, recited on the day he conquered Makkah, while watching the idols being smashed (that which translates as): “…And say [O Muhammad]: ‘Truth has come, and falsehood has departed, Indeed is falsehood, [by Nature], ever bound to depart.’” (Al-Israa’: 81).
l A fourth example of this struggle is the oppressive crusade wars against the Muslims when the forces of Christianity expended all their military power, men, and other resources until they conquered Jerusalem and ruled it for 90 years. After that, Allah sent the pious and honest leader known as Mujaahid Salaahuddeen who led the Muslims to victory in the famous battle of Hitteen, as a result of his sincerity and continuous Jihaad for the sake of Allah.
The uprising in Palestine is also a manifestation of the eternal conflict between truth and falsehood, and a living vivid example of the people of the truth defending their religion, sacred places, freedom and dignity against the people of falsehood who have colonised, attacked and profaned the sacred places. The obvious crimes and oppression they have committed and continue to commit against the Palestinians and their sacred places is clear evidence of the truthfulness of the verse which translates as: “You will surely find the most intense of the people in animosity toward the believers [to be] the Jews and those who associate others with Allah.” (Al-Maa’idah: 82).
Slaves of Allah! Although this conflict is long, it is certain that the result of it will be exactly the same as for similar conflicts in the past: victory to the believers and defeat and humiliation to the disbelievers; honour and might to the believers and ignominy to the disbelievers. The banner of truth will surely be raised in the land of Al-Aqsaa eventually, and the Jews will be defeated and humiliated. Allah says that which translates as “Already there has been for you a sign in the two armies which met [in combat at Badr] – one fighting in the cause of Allah and another of disbelievers. They saw them [to be] twice their [own] number by [their] eyesight. But Allah supports with His victory whom He wills. Indeed in that is a lesson for those of vision.” (Aal-‘Imraan: 13).
These examples of how the believers eventually succeeded and gained victory and glory must be enough to encourage us all and strengthen our determination to remain steadfast upon the truth until Allah makes it overcome falsehood and prevail, just as He did so many times in the past. This is because the promise of Allah is constant and will never change – it will always be fulfilled. Allah says that which translates as: “And incumbent upon Us was support of the believers.” (Ar-Room: 47).
A view of a new mosque near Furousya Roundabout in Doha. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil
