1 June 2011 Lefke, Cyprus
Shaykh Hisham Effendi, the Prophet (s) said (Mawlana Shaykh stands), ad-deenu naseehah, “Religion is advice.” (Mawlana Shaykh sits) Advice is also this association with you, where we speak a few words about the situation and calamities befalling the Islamic nation.
The Messenger (s) is an Arab Prophet. (Mawlana Shaykh stands) O Allah! Raise his rank and increase his honor, his light, his pleasure, his satisfaction and his majesty! (Mawlana Shaykh sits) Had the people of Sham kept the praising upon Prophet (s) in every mosque on Fridays, these calamities would have not descended upon them, but, they did not observe this matter.
In the beginning it used to be that every Friday a group of people would go around and call people to stand up and praise Prophet (s), and perform dhikrullah and plead to Prophet (s) to intercede on their behalf with Allah Almighty. When some scholars from the scholars of Sham, may Allah have mercy upon them, passed on from this world to Allah Almighty’s mercy, the responsibility of the matter was left with none but the ignorant ones and young boys. Then, Sham became under the rule of young boys. We are not saying anything about the government, but the people of Sham did not do what was necessary; they left the footsteps of their ancestors and grandparents and the way of the pious ones.
Religion is based upon the love of Prophet (s), (Mawlana Shaykh stands) may he be glorified and praised. (Mawlana Shaykh sits). The praising of the Prophet (s) is the reality and basis of religion and his love makes people to follow him (s). Amongst the tribes of Sham more than forty blessed hadith have been mentioned to stress the honor and goodness of Sham and its people, but the people of Sham did not keep the favors from Allah Almighty and they got occupied with worldly matters!
What were are speaking about can be long, but we should be reminded of some things because Allah (swt) has ordered us:
وَذَكِّرْ فَإِنَّ الذِّكْرَى تَنفَعُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
wa dhakkir fa-inna 'dh-dhikraa tanfa`u 'l-mu'mineen.
And remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the believers. (adh-Dhariyat, 51:55)
No one is left who is reminding people anymore. Reminding helps Allah’s servants to be aware and the Prophet’s (s) name is Dhaakir and Mudhakkir; the one who remembers and the one who reminds. Praising Prophet (s) is the origin of religion because praising him strengthens the love in a person for the Seal of Prophets (s). It generates love for the Prophet and that love attracts people to follow him (s). They left this so they were left also. All the countries used to admire the people of Sham but when they left this practice, the majesty was taken from them and there was no glory of Islam left in Sham. They are now overtaken.
The main reason for this major mistake is that they left the Ottoman sultans, may Allah have mercy upon them and raise their stations in Paradise. The calamity that has befallen the Islamic world has been mentioned by the prophets including the Seal of Prophets (s), Sayyidi 'l-Awwaleen wa ’l-akhireen. They refused to be one Muslim nation and they were stamped by the shaytanic people and jinns in Europe and then different nations arose amongst them and nationalism is cursed. All the problems that have befallen the nation are because of Arab nationalism. They said, “O Arabs! Why should we follow the Ottomans?” The Ottomans were Muslims who respected and dignified you and they were generous with you. What harm did you see in them? But because of Arab nationalism all hatred and problems arose. All Muslims, including Arabs, were under the flag of the Prophet (s)! (Mawlana Shaykh stands and sits)
The station of khilafah became a trust for them and the strongest kingdom among kingdoms were the Ottomans. Their kingdom was excellent and upon the order of the Prophet (s), while awake and while asleep, Sultan Selim was ordered to move towards Egypt and receive the trusts and holy belongings of the Prophet (s). These people do not know and they do not learn. The new generation is cursing the Ottomans because they think they took them backward. What do you mean “backward”? Now look at yourselves, have you become “forward” now? You are not honored in your own countries. The whole world is laughing at you, “O! Leave the Muslims to kill one another.”
You are teaching such things as nationalism and now it has become a great calamity upon the nation of the Prophet (s). The Turks are also saying “We are the Turks,” the Kurds are saying “We are the Kurds,” and the Arabs are saying, “We are the Arabs.” This division between the Arabs is what Allah (swt) warned them against: Wa laa tafarraqoo, “Don’t divide among yourself.”
وَاعْتَصِمُواْ بِحَبْلِ اللّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلاَ تَفَرَّقُواْ
w`ataasimoo bi hablillahi jamee`ian wa la taffaraqoo.
And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves. (Aali-`Imraan, 3:103)
O Arabs! You understand Arabic: Allah is fighting them. The fighting amongst them has reached a high level. They say that they are waiting to make peace and to discuss matters with America, Russia, or China but what is the purpose of that, when Allah (swt) says:
أَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِكَافٍ عَبْدَهُ
Alaysa Allahu bi kaafin `abdahu.
Is God not enough for His servant? (Az-Zumar, 39:36)
O Arabs! O servants of Allah! Why are you running after Russia, China, or America? Isn’t Allah enough for you to correct your situations and raise the flag of Islam and the banner of the Prophet (s)? Religion is advice and this is an advice: O Arab nations! Leave your rebellion and nationalism and say, “We are the nation of the Beloved (s), who says, ‘Religion is advice.’” Those who don’t accept advice will surely regret. If you like it, you like it, if you do not like it then go to the Hellfire; that path is open for you! Those who go on the way of nationalism are on the way of Hell. Now this world is hell. Later in the Hereafter you will go into the Hellfire if you separate. I am sorry to say this!
Where are your scholars; why are they not making it clear that these calamities are because you stopped praising the Prophet (s) because the Wahhabis do not like it! May the Wahhabis and the Salafis go to the Hellfire. Allah will judge them in the near future and not even one will remain amongst them on the surface of the Earth!
We are Rabbaniyoon, and Allah Almighty says, wa laakin koonoo Rabbaniyeen. That is mentioned in the Holy Qur’an. From where do you bring these beliefs and names, “We are Wahhabi, we are Salafi, we are this and that.” From where did Salafis and Wahhabis come? What honor do these names bring? Is it better to call yourself Wahhabi? Allah Almighty says:
وَلَـكِن كُونُواْ رَبَّانِيِّينَ
wa lakin koonoo rabbaniyyeen.
Become men of God. (Aali-`Imraan 3:79)
Why don’t they say, “We are Rabbaniyoon.” In a Hadeeth Qudsee, Al-Haqq, Allah Almighty says:
“O My servant! Obey Me and I will make you godly so that if you say to anything ‘Be!’ it will be.”
Indeed Allah has said the truth and this is their punishment. If they don’t return to the right way then out of seventy only one will remain of them. There was no need for this war or this trouble or this hatred. Allah Almighty sent the Holy Qur’an to bring the hearts together, not to separate.
The people of Sham say now, “This is bida`, this is haraam.” From where did you bring this philosophy? Halaal is clear and haraam is clear. Say it! Show us your proof that praising the Prophet (s) and gathering for the honor of praising the Prophet (s) is haraam! Bring your proof, O Hellfire people! Shaytan people are jealous and you are jealous, O Hellfire people! You are envious of the Seal of Prophets (s)! You are shaytanic people and Allah will take His revenge upon you.
Astaghfirullah, astaghfirullah, astaghfirullah. Who doesn’t accept advice will regret.
O our Lord! We have repented and returned to You. O our Lord! Accept our repentance, You are indeed the Acceptor of repentance.
(Mawlana Shaykh recites) Yaa Tawaab! Tub `alayna. Yaa Tawaab! Tub `alayna. Yaa Tawaab! Tub `alayna. Yaa Tawaab! Tub `alayna. Yaa Tawaab! Tub `alayna. Allah, Allah. Allah, Allah. Allahu Akbaru’l-akbar. Tawbah, yaa Rabbee. And from Allah comes success.
Fatihah.