Title of the Sermon: And Allah Will Perfect His Light
Main Elements of the Sermon:
١- Allah’s promise to His Messenger ﷺ to make the religion prevail.
٢- How to have good expectations of Allah regarding the victory of His religion.
٣- The future belongs to Islam.
Praise be to Allah, Who will perfect His light even if the disbelievers detest it, Who will make His religion prevail over all others even if the polytheists resent it. I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah, alone with no partner, and I bear witness that Muḥammad is His servant and Messenger. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him abundantly.
To proceed: Fear Allah, O servants of Allah, with true God-consciousness, and be mindful of Him in secret and in private.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ
“O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and do not die except in a state of submission to Him as Muslims.” [Āl ‘Imrān: ١٠٢]
Have you ever heard the story of the one who was utterly confident in his Lord, certain of His promise and His victory?
Come, let me tell you something about the master of the reliant—our Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ.
One day the Prophet ﷺ was sitting, and before him was ʿAdī ibn Ḥātim, when a man came complaining of poverty, and then another came complaining about highway robbery.
People were lamenting poverty and the dangers of the road caused by bandits and corrupt elements in the land.
But the Prophet ﷺ turned to ʿAdī ibn Ḥātim and asked him an astonishing question:
“O ʿAdī, have you seen al-Ḥīrah?” He said, “No, but I’ve been told about it.”
The Prophet said: “If your life is prolonged, you will see a woman traveling from al-Ḥīrah until she circumambulates the Kaʿbah, fearing none but Allah.”
ʿAdī said to himself: “Where are the bandits of Ṭayy, those who wreaked havoc across the land?”
Then the Prophet ﷺ said: “And if your life is prolonged, you will see the treasures of Kisrā opened.”
ʿAdī exclaimed in astonishment: “Kisrā ibn Hurmuz?” He said: “Kisrā ibn Hurmuz.”
Then the Prophet said: “And if your life is prolonged, you will see a man coming out with a handful of gold or silver, looking for someone to accept it from him, and he will find no one to take it.”
Years passed, and the Prophet ﷺ passed away—but what he foretold of Allah’s promise did not die.
And here is ʿAdī ibn Ḥātim saying: “I saw the woman travel from al-Ḥīrah until she circumambulated the Kaʿbah, fearing none but Allah. I was among those who conquered the treasures of Kisrā ibn Hurmuz. And if you live long enough, you will see what the Prophet ﷺ said about the handful of gold come true.” (Reported by al-Bukhārī)
Since the day Allah sent him with the religion of truth, the Prophet ﷺ knew with certainty that Allah would complete His light, even if the disbelievers hated it.
Did not our Lord say:
يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِئُوا نُورَ اللَّهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَاللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ * هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَى وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ
“They wish to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light, even if the disbelievers detest it. He is the One Who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth, to make it prevail over all religion, even if the polytheists detest it” [Sūrat al-Ṣaff: ٨–٩]?
Our Prophet ﷺ had immense trust in Allah’s promise. He used to give his Companions glad tidings, even during their most difficult moments of weakness, that they would be victorious.
Al-Khabbāb ibn al-Aratt said: “We complained to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ while he was lying in the shade of the Kaʿbah, using his cloak as a pillow. We said, ‘Won’t you seek victory for us? Won’t you pray for us?’
He replied: ‘Among those before you, a man would be taken, and a hole dug for him in the ground, and he would be placed in it. Then a saw would be brought and placed on his head, splitting him in two. Or he would be combed with iron combs between his flesh and bones. Yet that would not turn him away from his religion.
By Allah, this matter will be completed until a rider travels from Ṣanʿāʾ to Ḥaḍramawt fearing none but Allah—and the wolf for his sheep—but you are hasty!’” (Reported by al-Bukhārī)
Come with me to the Trench. The Prophet ﷺ is digging it with his Companions. Ten thousand disbelievers are on their way to Madīnah to destroy the Islamic state—so they claim. The Jews inside the city are plotting treachery, and the hypocrites among the believers are trembling and spreading fear like snakes, injecting their poison:
“The promise of Allah and His Messenger is nothing but delusion”.
Despite all that, the Prophet ﷺ stood like an immovable mountain, lifting his pickaxe to strike a boulder his Companions could not break. He said: “In the Name of Allah!” and struck, breaking a third of the rock. Then he said: “Allāhu Akbar! I have been given the keys of Shām! By Allah, I can see its red palaces from where I stand!”
Then he said: “In the Name of Allah!” and struck again, breaking another third.
He said: “Allāhu Akbar! I have been given the keys of Persia! By Allah, I can see the cities of Madāʾin and its white palace from where I stand!”
Then he struck a third time and shattered the remainder of the boulder.
He said: “Allāhu Akbar! I have been given the keys of Yemen! By Allah, I can see the gates of Ṣanʿāʾ from where I stand!” (Reported by Aḥmad)
This is how he gave his Companions glad tidings of Allah’s promise—that those pagan, idolatrous nations who worshipped stones, idols, fire, rabbis, monks, emperors, and kings besides Allah would disappear, and that might and honor belong to Allah, His Messenger, and the believers.
He ﷺ said to his Companions in the harshest moments of weakness: “When Kisrā dies, there will be no Kisrā after him. And when Caesar dies, there will be no Caesar after him. By the One in Whose hand is my soul, their treasures will be spent in the path of Allah!” (Reported by al-Bukhārī and Muslim)
He informed them about the dominion of his nation after him and how it would reach the Easts and the Wests, saying: “Indeed, Allah folded the earth for me, so I saw its Easts and its Wests. And the dominion of my nation will reach what was folded for me of it.” (Narrated by Muslim)
O servants of Allah,
Despite the harshness of the scene, the gravity of the calamity, the pain of the wounds, the recurrence of massacres, the arrogance of the criminal disbelievers, and the weakness of the sincere—still, the believer never despairs of the mercy of Allah, for he has good expectations of his Lord and Master.
Let me ask you, O believer in your Lord: Is your Lord not the One of perfect attributes, the Praiseworthy—praised for all His actions?
Is your Lord not Witness over all things? Is your Lord not Powerful over everything—never hindered by rebellious disbelievers?
Is your Lord not the All-Knowing, All-Wise, the Possessor of stunning wisdom?
Do you know how Allah describes those who despair of His mercy? He says:
وَلَا تَيْأَسُوا مِنْ رَوْحِ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَا يَيْأَسُ مِنْ رَوْحِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الْكَافِرُونَ
“Do not despair of the mercy of Allah. None despairs of the mercy of Allah except the disbelieving people” [Sūrat Yūsuf: ٨٧]
And He says:
وَمَنْ يَقْنَطُ مِنْ رَحْمَةِ رَبِّهِ إِلَّا الضَّالُّونَ
“And who despairs of the mercy of his Lord except the misguided?” [Sūrat al-Ḥijr: ٥٦]
He, exalted is He, described them with misguidance and disbelief. Do you know why?
Because despair of Allah’s mercy only arises from a servant who does not know Allah’s perfection. Despair stems from imagining that Allah is unaware of what’s happening, or incapable of changing the situation, or lacking in generosity. But Allah is exalted above all such imperfections.
Whoever believes that the light of Islam will be extinguished or that its banner will fall is truly following the path of the hypocrites—those who thought ill of Allah. About them, Allah said:
وَيُعَذِّبَ الْمُنَافِقِينَ وَالْمُنَافِقَاتِ وَالْمُشْرِكِينَ وَالْمُشْرِكَاتِ الظَّانِّينَ بِاللَّهِ ظَنَّ السَّوْءِ
“…and to punish the hypocrite men and women and the polytheist men and women—those who think evil thoughts about Allah” [Sūrat al-Fatḥ: ٦]
Indeed, Islam and its people have throughout history endured horrors and tribulations, as the disbelievers united against them despite their differing religions. Yet Islam remains a radiant light that cannot be extinguished by the bats of darkness. Yes, the light may dim for a time, and the banner may waver, but the sun of Islam never sets, and its flag never falls.
The Prophet ﷺ began the call to Islam alone. He was opposed by both the near and far. They accused him of sorcery, soothsaying, poetry, and lying. They tortured his companions, killed them, exiled them, took their wealth and homes. Yet the Prophet ﷺ and his companions never despaired—until Allah established the Islamic state for them in Madīnah.
Then the polytheists and the Jews fought them. They tried to assassinate him multiple times. They betrayed him and his companions. Many of his companions became martyrs. Yet, on the day of the Farewell Ḥajj, the Prophet ﷺ stood with more than a hundred thousand Muslims.
Then the Prophet ﷺ passed away, and many of the Arabs apostatized. But the lions of Islam among his companions rose to carry the trust, until disbelief and its people were crushed, and Allah granted them victory over Persia and Rome. Islam spread across the lands, and the Caliphate was established upon the prophetic model.
Then trials came again. The Crusaders—worshippers of the cross—launched nine successive campaigns. They slaughtered thousands of innocents and seized Masjid al-Aqṣā, which remained captive in their hands for ninety years—until Allah drove them out and returned it to the bosom of Islam.
Then came another wave of tribulation. The Mongols descended like ravenous beasts. They ravaged the Muslim lands, killing millions. Most of the Muslim regions fell—yet Allah drove them out.
And so it continues: the turn of falsehood is brief, and the dominion of Islam endures until the Hour is established.
May Allah bless me and you through the Great Qur’an, and benefit me and you through its verses and wise reminder. I seek forgiveness from Allah for myself and for you, so seek His forgiveness—for He is the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Second Sermon
All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, his companions, and those who follow him. To proceed:
The future belongs to Islam and its people—those who act upon it—even if the disbelievers and polytheists detest it.
Have you seen the crimes of the Jews? By Allah, they and their illegitimate state will perish. Did not the Prophet ﷺ say:
“The Hour will not be established until the Muslims fight the Jews. The Muslims will kill them until a Jew hides behind a rock or a tree, and the rock or tree will say: ‘O Muslim, O servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him,’ except for the gharqad tree, for it is the tree of the Jews.” (Narrated by Muslim)
Have you seen the Crusaders and their schemes? The cross will fall, and Islam will spread to every place reached by night and day. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“There will be no house—whether of mud or of fur—left on the face of the earth except that Allah will cause the word of Islam to enter it, with the honor of one who is honored or the humiliation of one who is humiliated. Allah will honor them and make them among its people, or He will humiliate them so they submit to it.” (Narrated by Aḥmad)
And the Prophet ﷺ said: “The Hour will not be established until the son of Mary descends among you as a just ruler. He will break the cross, kill the pig, abolish the jizyah, and wealth will overflow until no one will accept it.” (Narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim)
Have you seen the corruption and injustice that have filled the earth? It will all vanish, and there will be a rightly guided Caliphate upon the way of Prophethood.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Prophethood will remain among you as long as Allah wills it to remain. Then He will remove it when He wills to remove it. Then there will be a Caliphate upon the way of Prophethood, and it will remain as long as Allah wills it to remain. Then He will remove it when He wills to remove it. Then there will be a biting kingship, and it will remain as long as Allah wills it to remain. Then He will remove it when He wills to remove it. Then there will be a tyrannical kingship, and it will remain as long as Allah wills it to remain. Then He will remove it when He wills to remove it. Then there will be a Caliphate upon the way of Prophethood.” Then he was silent. (Narrated by Aḥmad)
This is the promise of Allah that never fails:
وَلَقَدْ سَبَقَتْ كَلِمَتُنَا لِعِبَادِنَا الْمُرْسَلِينَ * إِنَّهُمْ لَهُمُ الْمَنْصُورُونَ * وَإِنَّ جُنْدَنَا لَهُمُ الْغَالِبُونَ
“Indeed, Our word has already gone forth to Our servants, the messengers: They will surely be supported, and indeed, Our soldiers will be the victorious ones” [al-Ṣāffāt: ١٧١-١٧٣].
The believer must work and plant seeds while maintaining good expectations of his Lord, being certain that Allah’s word is supreme, and knowing that Allah could grant victory instantly if He willed—but He tests people to distinguish the impure from the pure.
O Allah, grant victory to Islam and honor the Muslims. Destroy the disbelieving criminals. O Allah, send tranquility into the hearts of those striving in Your path, deliver Your oppressed servants, and raise the banner of the religion by Your power, O Mighty, O Strong.
O Allah, grant us security in our lands, rectify our leaders and those in authority over us, and place our rule in the hands of those who fear You, obey You, and seek Your pleasure.
Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the torment of the Fire.
