Allah alone guides, provides, and forgives
“Take yourself into account before you are taken into account.”
Explaining the famous hadith qudsi in which Allah calls out 'Ya Ibadi' (O My servants) ten times, the speaker argues that all guidance, provision, and forgiveness come only from Allah, that oppression of any kind is forbidden, and that every person will be held accountable for their recorded deeds.
The khutbah in 8 steps
- Opening praise and definition of hadith qudsi vs. the Qur'an, plus Imam Ahmad's praise of this hadith's Shami narrators
- The honor of being called Allah's servant ('ya ibadi') as the highest status
- First call: Allah made oppression haram on Himself and among us, three types of dhulm (against Allah via shirk, against oneself, against others) with the muflis hadith
- Second call: all are misguided except whom Allah guides, seek guidance constantly, as we do 17 times daily in salah
- Third and fourth calls: all are hungry and naked except whom Allah feeds and clothes, ask Allah for even the smallest worldly needs like the salaf
- Fifth call: we sin day and night but Allah forgives all, never despair of His mercy (Az-Zumar 53)
- Allah is al-Ghani: neither our righteousness nor our wickedness affects His kingdom; His treasures are endless so be generous in du'a
- Final call on accountability and the book of deeds, Ibn Rajab's commentary, six-point summary, and closing du'a
In the khateeb's words
“So ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and do not be stingy in your dua because His treasures and bounties are endless”
“Take yourself into account before you are taken into account”
For the dinner table
Sheikh Ahmed taught a beautiful hadith qudsi in which Allah calls out to us ten times as "O My Servants." He reminded us that Allah has made oppression forbidden, so we must never wrong one another with our words, hands, or hearts. Allah also tells us that He alone gives guidance, provides our food and clothing, and loves to forgive us no matter how many mistakes we make. Our good deeds can never add to Allah's greatness, and our sins can never harm Him, they only help or hurt us. Most importantly, we will one day see everything we have done written in our book, so the sheikh encouraged us to take ourselves into account now before we are taken into account later.
- What is one way we can be careful not to hurt someone's feelings or take their rights this week?
- Why do you think Allah wants us to keep asking Him for guidance even when we are already trying to be good?
- What is something small, like food, help on a test, or patience, that we can ask Allah for tonight?
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