The Sermon for Necessities
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. The Sermon for Necessities (Arabic: Khutbat-ul-Haajah) is a popular sermon (khutbah) in the Islamic world (particularly as the introduction to a khutbah during Jumu'ah). It is used as an introduction to numerous undertakings of a Muslim.[1]
Contents
History of the Sermon
The Sermon for Necessities was initially taught by Muhammad as part of the Sunnah. From Muhammad, the sermon has been reported by numerous Sahaba including: Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud, Abu Musa Ashaari, `Abd Allah ibn `Abbas, Jabir ibn Abd-Allah, Aisha and Sahl ibn Sa'd.[2] The use of the sermon had been neglected for some years until certain scholars such as Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Tahawi, Ibn Taymiyyah,[3] and Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya and others revived it. Then its use was neglected again in the later generations until Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani revived it and its usage began to spread again, until it has reached its current widespread use and popularity.[4]
Text of the Sermon
The Sermon for Necessities is composed of the following text (i.e. the English translation of the original Arabic text) as taught by Muhammad, including Ayat (Verses) from three different Qur’anic Suras (Chapters):[5]
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“Verily, all praise is for Allah, we praise Him and we seek His assistance and we ask for His forgiveness. And we seek refuge in Allah from the evils of our selves and from the evils of our actions.
“Whoever Allah guides, there is no one that can lead him astray, and whoever is led astray, there is no guide for him. I bear witness that there is no deity that has the right to be worshipped except Allah- alone and with no partner- and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger.
“O you who believe, fear Allah as He ought to be feared and do not die except as Muslims.” [Surah Aali ‘Imraan: 102]
“O mankind, fear Allah who created you from a single soul (Adam), and created from that, its mate (Eve). And from both of them, He brought forth many men and women. And fear Allah to whom you demand your mutual rights. Verily, Allah is an All-Watcher over you.” [Surah An-Nisaa: 1]
“O you who believe, fear Allah and speak a word that is precise (i.e. truthful). He will rectify your deeds for you and forgive you your sins. And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has indeed achieved a great success.” [Surah Al-Ahzaab: 70-71]
“To proceed”: …
After saying “To proceed,” the person then continues upon what they planned to say, write or do.
Areas of applicability of the Sermon
The Sermon for Necessities is used in the following occasions:
- To begin lessons,[6] or open classes.[7]
- To begin books,[6] articles,[7] or treatises.[7] The Salaf-us-Salih (pious predecessors) would commence their books with this sermon e.g. al-Tahawi included it in the introduction to his book Mushkil-ul-Athaar and Ibn Taymiyyah also constantly mentioned the sermon in his writings.[8]
- To open sermons.[9]
- To open the sermon during the marriage ceremony.[8]
- To open the Friday prayer (Jumu'ah) sermon.[9]
- By teachers to open their gatherings, their teaching of the Qur’an, their teaching of the Sunnah, their teaching of Fiqh and their admonishing and cautioning the people.[3]
- For various other affairs[10] and necessities when Muslims wish to address one another,[3] i.e. the Sermon for Necessities has a general usage and prescription during every righteous occasion.[3]
However, the sermon is excluded from business contracts and transactions.[11] Furthermore, the sermon is a Sunnah,[7] but it is not obligatory to the point that it cannot be left off, i.e., it can be left off at some times. However, it cannot be abandoned completely.[4]
See also
Notes
- ↑ al-Albani 2006
- ↑ al-Albani 2006, pp. 6-19
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 al-Albani 2006, p. 24
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 al-Albani 2006, p. 23
- ↑ al-Albani 2006, pp. 4-5—Text of the Sermon for Necessities (Khutbat-ul-Haajah) in Arabic, with English translation
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 al-Albani 2006, p. 3
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 al-Albani 2006, pp. 22-23
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 al-Albani 2006, p. 21
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 al-Albani 2006, pp. 21, 22-23
- ↑ al-Albani 2006, pp. 3,21
- ↑ al-Albani 2006, p. 22
References
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