FAITH: A MEANS FOR SECURITY AND STABILITY.

Praise be to Allah Who decree and execute all affairs, He disposes of affairs according to His knowledge. He preordained the beginning and the end of all matters. My praise unto Him knows no end. I testify there is no god but Allah alone, He has no associate, He manifest signs of His Oneness firmly, And I testify that Muhammad is the servant of Allah send to all mankind. May Allah bestow peace and blessings on him (pbuh), his families, his companions whom Allah granted piety to their souls. Thereafter, O servants of Allah, I urge you and I to fear Allah. It is Gods message to us and those before us, Allah says: { وَلَقَدْ وَصَّيْنَا الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ أَنِ اتَّقُواْ اللّهَ }(النساء: 131). “And We have instructed those who were given the Scripture before you and yourselves to fear Allah.” (4: 131) Connection between Faith and Security: The connection between faith and social security and those between faith and character is clearly stated in the holy qur’an and the sunnah of the holy Prophet (PBUH). What goal sought after by any nation in the contemporary world or any other that could be greater than security. The modern world is prosperous in material development and civilizational well-being. Muslim Nations live in crisis and wars The entire Muslim world of today including; east and west, Arabs and Non-Arabs, are all living in state of panic, fear, anxiety, and alienation, engulfing it from all directions. It is witnessing the peak of disorder, disintegration, senseless killing, genocide and colossal destruction! But there is no power or might except with Allah! The Muslim nation face uninterrupted assaults, strikes, battery, from Burma to Kashmir to Afghanistan to Iraq to Somalia and now it has reached Libya, Syria, Tunisia, and lately in Egypt. These are manifestation of external machinations, virtually financed by the Jews, with roadmap provided by the Americans, trickily aided by the European Union and perfected using the international diplomacy interface and unfortunately abetted by some Muslims. This scenario is like the situation of Nations before the mission of the Prophet sent by God Almighty as mercy for the worlds. The message of compassion given to him (pbuh) is still living among us today as fresh as ever and we remain resolute as conveyer of this message to the whole world beginning from ourselves. Evidence of security and faith in the Qur’an: The relationship between security and faith in all its aspects is in the book of Allah- the exalted, and clearly evident in the conditions of the earlier Nations to serve as lesson for us. Allah says: {وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْقُرَى آمَنُوا وَاتَّقَوْا لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ بَرَكَاتٍ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالأَرْضِ وَلَكِنْ كَذَّبُوا فَأَخَذْنَاهُمْ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ} (الأعراف96) “And if only the people of the cities had believed and feared Allah, We would have opened upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth; but they denied [the messengers], so We seized them for what they were earning." (7:96) {وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ أَقَامُوا التَّوْرَاةَ والإنْجِيل وَمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِمْ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ لأكَلُوا مِنْ فَوْقِهِمْ وَمِنْ تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِهِمْ }(المائدة66) And if only they upheld [the law of] the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to them from their Lord, they would have consumed [provision] from above them and from beneath their feet. (5: 66) {وَأَلَّوِ اسْتَقَامُوا عَلَى الطَّرِيقَةِ لَأَسْقَيْنَاهُمْ مَاءً غَدَقاً} (الجن16) And [Allah revealed] that if they had remained straight on the way, We would have given them abundant provision.” (72: 16) Lots of verses abound which indicate that there will be no security nor prosperity, happiness nor peace except with faith in Allah- the exalted, consequently, anyone looking for security in his mind, society, or nation will not find it except and until he possesses faith in God. Equally, it is imperative for anyone who hopes to live a pleasurable life to have faith in God, submit to Him in all his dealings and desires and obey the guidance of prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Allah says of those who neglected and fail to implement faith thus: {وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلاً قَرْيَةً كَانَتْ آمِنَةً مُطْمَئِنَّةً يَأْتِيهَا رِزْقُهَا رَغَداً مِنْ كُلِّ مَكَانٍ فَكَفَرَتْ بِأَنْعُمِ اللَّهِ فَأَذَاقَهَا اللَّهُ لِبَاسَ الْجُوعِ وَالْخَوْفِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَصْنَعُونَ} (النحل112) And Allah presents an example: a city which was safe and secure, its provision coming to it in abundance from every location, but it denied the favors of Allah. So Allah made it taste the envelopment of hunger and fear for what they had been doing. (16: 112) {فَلَمَّا نَسُوا مَا ذُكِّرُوا بِهِ فَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَبْوَابَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَتَّى إِذَا فَرِحُوا بِمَا أُوتُوا أَخَذْنَاهُمْ بَغْتَةً فَإِذَا هُمْ مُبْلِسُونَ * فَقُطِعَ دَابِرُ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ} (الأنعام:44-45). So when they forgot that by which they had been reminded, We opened to them the doors of every [good] thing until, when they rejoiced in that which they were given, We seized them suddenly, and they were [then] in despair. So the people that committed wrong were eliminated. And praise to Allah, Lord of the worlds. (6: 44- 45) Linguistic Relationship in security, faith and trust in the Arabic language: The connection between security and faith is perceivable in the lexical composition of the Arabic words. Faith is formed with the same root letters as security which are: Alif, Meem and Nuun, (A-mi-na). The root words of Eemaan- Faith was equally derived from the same lexicons- Alif, Meem and Nuun (A-mi-na), likewise is the word Amaanah- trust. It is noteworthy that these three words- Al-Amnu, Al-Eemaan and Al-Amaanah (security, faith and trust) are closely related lexically and in concept. The prophet (pbuh) affirm this idea when he said: Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand the people are safe, and the believer is the one with whom the people’s lives and wealth are trusted.” ( Sunan An-Nasa’i 4998. Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani) Allah says concerning Trust: : {إِنَّا عَرَضْنَا الْأَمَانَةَ عَلَى السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَالْجِبَالِ فَأَبَيْنَ أَنْ يَحْمِلْنَهَا وَأَشْفَقْنَ مِنْهَا وَحَمَلَهَا الْأِنْسَانُ إِنَّهُ كَانَ ظَلُوماً جَهُولاً} (الأحزاب 72) Indeed, we offered the Trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, and they declined to bear it and feared it; but man [undertook to] bear it. Indeed, he was unjustand ignorant. (33: 72) What then is the trust? It is the same burden or task of the faith in Allah and devotion to Him as described in another verse of the Holy Qur’an thus: {وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالأِنْسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ} (الذاريات:56) And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. (51: 56) Thus, the trust means faith, as well as all its content, including discharge of duty in a perfect manner, especially the rights of the leaders and the masses. Allah- the exalted says: {إِنَّ اللهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَنْ تُؤَدُو الأَمَانَاتِ إِلَي أَهْلِهَا وَإِذَا حَكَمْتُمْ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ أَنْ تَحْكُمُوا بِالْعَدْلِ ...}.(النساء 58) “Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice. Excellent is that which Allah instructs you. Indeed, Allah is ever Hearing and Seeing.” (4: 58) Faith: the greatest trust man is saddle with: The qualities of faith and its division agree and converge around this point and principle of security. The peak of security is achieved by realizing the oneness of Allah- the Almighty. Allah says: {وَكَيفَ أَخَافُ مَا أَشْرَكْتُم وَلاَا تَخَافُونَ أَنَّكُم أًشْرَكْتُم بِاللهِ مَا لم يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ سُلْطَانًا فَأَيُّ الْفَرِيقَينِ أَحَقُّ بِالأَمْنِ إِنْ كُنتُم تَعْلَمُونَ (81) الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُوا إِيمَانَهُمْ بِظُلْمٍ أُولَئِكَ لَهُمُ الأَمْنُ وَهُمْ مُهْتَدُونَ} (الأنعام82) “And how should I fear what you associate while you do not fear that you have associated with Allah that for which He has not sent down to you any authority? So which of the two parties has more right to security, if you should know? They who believe and do not mix their belief with injustice - those will have security, and they are [rightly] guided. (6: 81- 82). The security in the definite form i.e. possessing the Alif and Lam encompasses all forms of security. And such security is for someone who never mixed his faith with injustice. The injustice described here is ‘Shirk’- associating partner with Allah, as interpreted by the Prophet (pbuh) to his companions on the revelation of the verse quoted above. They said: 'Who amongst us have not wronged his soul?’ Here the companions of the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him, despite recognition of their status as the best set of people after the prophets, they were afraid of the security eluding them, but why? They wondered thus: 'Who amongst us have not wronged his soul?’ 'Who among us have not sinned against Allah?’ But the Prophet assured them as he said: ((not as thought, rather it is as described by the pious slave of Allah thus: "O my son, do not associate [anything] with Allah. Indeed, association [with him] is great injustice." (31: 13) Therefore, whoever leaves Shirk- associating partner with Allah, he surely attain security: “They who believe and do not mix their belief with injustice - those will have security, and they are [rightly] guided.” (6: 82) He surely gains security and guidance in this world and in the hereafter, he lives in this world on the straight path rightly guided and secured, for whoever fears Allah alone is safe from all evil. Unfortunately, the misfortune of the nations of Muslims today is that it has take various deities for worship other than Allah including evil ideologies and secularist doctrines, there is no might or power except with Allah. The Companions as Models. The companions demonstrated the best examples: {الَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ النَّاسُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُوا لَكُمْ فَاخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ إِيمَاناً وَقَالُوا حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ}(آل عمران:173) “Those to whom hypocrites said, "Indeed, the people have gathered against you, so fear them." But it [merely] increased them in faith, and they said, "Sufficient for us is Allah, and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs." (3: 173) They never nurse any form of fear: {إِنَّمَا ذَلِكُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ يُخَوِّفُ أَوْلِيَاءَهُ فَلا تَخَافُوهُمْ وَخَافُونِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ} (آل عمران175) That is only Satan who frightens [you] of his supporters. So fear them not, but fear Me, if you are [indeed] believers. (3: 175) A believer who true understands tawheed- monotheism, fears none other than Allah. thus he will never fear disbelief, the nations of kufars, their weapons, their might and their sophistication. Added to that, he should not be afraid to address anyone or admonish him to fear Allah. If he (the believer) is someone who enjoins good and forbids evil, he must never fear the wicked and mischievous persons, hinging on the advice of the prophet (pbuh): “The best form of Jihad is the saying the truth before a tyrant ruler” That will be in this life but on the day of Judgement: {وَقَالُوا الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي هَدَانَا لِهَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِنَهْتَدِيَ لَوْلا أَنْ هَدَانَا اللَّه} (الأعراف43) And they will say, "Praise to Allah, who has guided us to this; and we would never have been guided if Allah had not guided us.” (7: 43) Only those who have attained complete faith in Allah that will be admitted into paradise under the mercy of Allah. However, for the wrong doers who are involved in the great sins which ordinarily qualify them for hellfire, such persons, if they had faith in the monotheism of Allah, then they will end up in the paradise. For Allah had approved paradise for anyone who meet Allah (swt) without associating partner with Him, despite committing sins like fornication, stealing etc. For emphasis, whoever fulfils tawheed- monotheism, without joining partner with Allah, will surely make paradise even after expiration of some periods in hellfire. This is not to say that the perpetrators of those sins mentioned above and other types will be exonerated from hellfire, rather the emphasis here is that their fate –Allah’s willing, is security and paradise, even after the torment of hell and the terrors therein. Hence, it is evident that the greatest security achievable by mankind is in actualizing faith and monotheism in Allah (swt), or in another words, faith tranquility which is manifested in Allah’s monotheism. This provided the ground for the early Muslims to reply the people thus: {الذِينَ آمَنُو وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُوا إِيمَانَهُمْ بِظُلْمٍ أُولَئِكَ لَهُمُ الأًمْنُ وَهُمْ مُهْتَدُونَ}(الأنعام 82) “They who believe and do not mix their belief with injustice - those will have security, and they are [rightly] guided.” (6: 82) May Allah bless us all with the Qur’an and profit us all with the messages therein, having said this, I seek forgive from Allah for me and you and all Muslims, do seek His forgiveness He is Oft-forgiving. THE SECOND SERMON Praise be to Allah alone. May peace and blessings be upon he that no other prophet succeeds, and his families and companions. Thereafter, O Servants of Allah, fear Allah and keep away from atrocious words and misleading temptations; seek Allah’s help with your actions and words in times of trials, you shall surely reach the peak of tranquility. Be aware that whoever hold firmly to this straight religion, and work by the Holy Book of Allah, and follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) has surely profit and become successful to abide in the paradise in the company of the prophets, the truthful, the matyrs and the righteous ones. Allah says: { وَمَن يُطِعِ اللّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُوْلَئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاء وَالصَّالِحِينَ وَحَسُنَ أُولَئِكَ رَفِيقاً , ذَلِكَ الْفَضْلُ مِنَ اللّهِ وَكَفَى بِاللّهِ عَلِيماً } (سورة النساء 69- 70) I hereby enjoin you all dear Muslims to hold on firmly unto your religion especially in this period where the experience of the one who hold unto his religion is that of a person who grips an ember of fire. The happenings in our country today among the political parties is disheartening, where two chairmen were elected for just a single party, and the clinging of an ailing governor to seat of power, it is only an evidence of personal ambitions and hero worship instead of serving the people and the nation. Oh Allah descend peace; flowing with continuous tranquility and security upon Nigeria and all other Muslim nations. O Allah accept the worship of the pilgrims of hajj and Umrah, and grant us all Your pleasure, And the last of our call will be, "Praise to Allah, Lord of the worlds!" O Allah deal accordingly with the coupists who spilled our blood, killed our brothers and sisters, inflicted difficulty our brothers in their nation. O Allah deal with the betrayers who betrayed the trust, the way You dealt with the People of ‘Aad and Thamud. O Allah deal with the traitors who murdered those praying while bowing and prostrating. O Allah, deal with the mischief makers who permitted the spilling of the blood of the peaceful innocent ones, O Allah rain on them Your punishment which is inevitable for the criminals and evil doers.,