Real Ahlis-Sunnah Wal-Jama’ah (Sunnists) are not extremists!, By Murtadha Gusau

Within the identify of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

All excellent reward be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. Might His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his household and companions.

Expensive brothers and sisters! Islam prohibits extremism and strongly condemns it. The extremists deviate from the trail and methodology of Muslims as a result of they neglect the Sunnah of Islam and emphasise solely on its mandatories. On this regard, three males got here to the homes of the wives of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) to inquire concerning the worship of the Prophet. After they had been knowledgeable, they thought of their worship insignificant and mentioned:

“The place are we as compared with the Prophet (Peace be upon him) whereas Allah has forgiven his previous sins and future sins.”

Certainly one of them mentioned:

“As for me, I shall supply Salat all night time lengthy.”

One other mentioned:

“I shall observe fasting constantly and shall not break it.”

One other mentioned:

“I shall abstain from girls and shall by no means marry.”

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) got here to them and mentioned:

“Are you the individuals who mentioned such and such issues? By Allah, I concern Allah greater than you do, and I’m most obedient and dutiful amongst you to Him, however nonetheless I observe quick and break it; carry out Salat and sleep at night time and take wives. So whoever turns away from my Sunnah doesn’t belong to me.”

Revered brothers and sisters! This exaggeration in worship is taken into account extremism and strictness. The Messenger of Allah mentioned:

“Beware! The extremists perished.”

Imam Nawawi mentioned:

“The extremists are those that undertake strictness the place it isn’t required. Being excessive and being strict are synonymous with extremism, and whoever turns into excessively strict, Allah will probably be strict with him.”

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) mentioned:

“Don’t impose austerities on yourselves and so have Allah imposing austerities on you; for folks have imposed austerities on themselves and Allah has imposed austerities on them.”

Anybody who transfers folks from ease to problem, from spaciousness to narrowness, or from reduction to misery is an extremist and a radical. This severely goes in opposition to the divine methodology as a result of extremists transfer folks from facilitation and ease to hardship. Allah Almighty Says:

“Allah intends each facility for you; He doesn’t wish to put to difficulties.” [Al-Baqarah, 185]

Certainly, Allah has not positioned upon us on this faith any hardship or problem and He has not imposed upon us what we can not bear. Reasonably, Islam got here with the Hanifiyyah al-Sahmah (Implies a beneficiant comportment with “others” (whether or not others in faith, or others in humanity), so hardship is lifted from the Ummah. Allah Stated:

“And He has not positioned upon you within the faith any hardship.”

Imam Al-Shatibi (Might Allah have mercy on him) mentioned:

“Know that hardship is lifted from the mukallaf (Accountable individual in Islam) for 2 causes: the primary is the concern of being minimize off from the trail, hating worship and disliking the duty.” This that means contains the concern of introducing corruption into his physique, thoughts, wealth, or situation. The second is the concern of falling quick when competing with the several types of features associated to the servant, akin to: his accountability for his youngster and household to different duties that come alongside the way in which. Maybe delving into a number of the work could be a distraction from them and would minimize off the mukallaf from them. And maybe he wished to hold each events to exaggeration within the investigation, and he was minimize off from them. As for the primary: Allah made this blessed Shari’ah, Hanifiyyah, simple and tolerant, during which He preserved the hearts of the creation and made it pricey to them. If they’d acted opposite to ease, what they had been charged with would have entered into them, which might not have purified their works. Do you not see that He Says: “And know that amongst you is Allah’s Messenger: had been he, in lots of issues, to comply with your (needs), you will surely fall into misfortune.” [Al-Hujurat, 7] The Qur’anic verse has knowledgeable us that Allah has made religion pricey to us by facilitating and simplifying it, and has beautified it in our hearts by that and the honest promise of reward for it. So, you need to carry out acts which you can bear since Allah doesn’t tire till you tire.”

It’s unhappy that extremists consider that extremism is the final rule and that facilitation just isn’t a part of Islam in any respect. They thought that their phrase is the ultimate phrase and their opinion is just the best one. Due to this fact, they handled folks with harshness and rudeness, they usually appointed themselves as guardians over Muslims, opposite to the saying of Allah The Almighty:

“Invite (all) to the Means of your Lord with knowledge and exquisite preaching; and argue with them in methods which can be greatest and most gracious: on your Lord know greatest, who’ve strayed from His Path, and who obtain steerage.” [An-Nahl, 125]

Imam Ali (Might Allah be happy with him) mentioned:

“The true jurist is the one who doesn’t trigger folks to despair of Allah’s mercy and doesn’t give them permission to commit sins.”

Nonetheless, the extremists didn’t comply with the Messenger (Peace be upon him) they usually thought evil of individuals. Consequently, they described those that disagreed with them as infidels (kuffar) and misguided, and denied them religion and steerage. Furthermore, they regarded them out of the trail of the magnanimous Shari’ah and the faith of mercy. Due to this fact, they made taking lives and wealth lawful. That is though the Messenger (Peace be upon him) mentioned:

“Don’t revert to disbelief after me by placing (chopping) the necks of each other.”

The answer to this disaster just isn’t tough since our kids know that faith is relevant to each time and place, offers with non secular, cultural, and sexual variety and accepts it. This faith has embraced totally different peoples: Arabs, Abyssinians, Persians, and Romans; amongst them are white and black dwelling as loving brothers. There isn’t a superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab besides by way of righteousness. Every one among them strives to excel within the universe and encourages people to develop their artistic skills and diligent efforts, and to carry out righteous deeds on this life and the hereafter.

Certainly, extremists have misrepresented Islam and Muslims by way of their harsh remedy, their impolite behaviour, and their radical ideology; deceptive Islam’s enemies into considering that Islam is an extremist faith that fights in opposition to mercy and gentleness.

Thanks be to Allah, the Ummah had an early begin in combating extremism and Takfir (Accusing Muslims of disbelief). Due to this fact, The Amman Message was launched clarifying the matter and warning in opposition to their dangerous results. It emphasised that one among their qualities is harshness and cruelty, and their hearts are full of hatred and extremism, devoid of mercy and compassion, as they terrorise folks by way of torture, killing, burning, and persecution within the identify of faith. Nonetheless, the faith is harmless of them since it’s all about mercy and peace.

Due to this fact, we’re in determined want for enlightened and reasonable students of Islamic information who’ve perception into textual interpretation and perceive the upper targets of Shari’ah. They need to prioritise sound non secular discourse, abandon sectarian discourse and clarify that the system of worship and customs just isn’t restricted to the hereafter alone. On the whole, we’re in dire want for locating diligent, earnest, and honest people devoted to their faith and nation.

These truths should turn into the main focus of our Islamic students, our writers, our Imams, our preachers, our educators, and our academics as a result of anybody who deviates from the steerage of Allah and His Messenger and follows deviant opinions is looking for to sow discord. Allah, The Exalted Says:

“Then let these beware who stand up to the Messenger’s order, lest some trial befall them, or a grievous penalty be inflicted on them.” [An-Nur, 63]

All the time, the decision of His Eminence, the Sulran of Sokoto could Allah shield him, in his conferences and directives was not restricted to these people, nevertheless it addressed each citizen on this our blessed nation, urging them to really feel the accountability entrusted to them and to be vigilant in safeguarding the nation from any hurt. We’re in want for sturdy, reliable, educated civil servants who fulfill their duties with out feebleness or negligence, deal with all residents with equality, justice, and sincerity and love for his or her brothers and sisters what they love for themselves.

We’re in want for an trustworthy media homes that carries the true message, the place we solely hear goodness and fact from it. Its motto is within the following Qur’anic verse:

“And pursue not that of which you had no information; for each act of listening to, or of seeing or of (feeling in) the center will probably be enquired into (on the Day of Reckoning).” [Al-Isra, 36]

We’re in want for the writers and thinkers who carries accountable and sort phrases by way of constructive and purposeful criticism, advocating for goodness, knowledge, and scientific dialogue, to construct a robust and cohesive nation. In distinction, we don’t want the writers who throws poisoned arrows, casting doubt on the Qur’an and Sunnah, and criticising Allah The Almighty in His rulings.

A big position awaits us in confronting errors and corruption, instilling morals, love of the nation, and selling concord, love, and unity, rejecting extremism and terrorism. We should always thank Allah the Almighty for the blessing of dwelling in a protected and safe locations whereas a few of our brothers and sisters round us are going through abduction.

All excellent reward is because of Allah, Lord of the worlds. Might the peace, blessings and salutations of Allah be upon our noble Messenger, Muhammad (Peace be upon him), and upon his household, his Companions and his true followers.

Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of: Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’ah Mosque; and Late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene Mosque, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He may be reached through: gusauimam@gmail.com; or +2348038289761.

This Friday sermon (Jumu’ah Khutbah) was ready for supply at present Friday, 27 Jumadal Ula, 1446 AH (November 29, 2024).