Sermon's Title: His Hearing Encompasses All Voices
Themes of the Sermon:
1- Allah is the All-Hearing.
2- The true God hears and responds.
3- The faith-based effects upon one who believes in the greatness of Allah’s Hearing.
All praise is due to Allah, Whose Hearing encompasses all voices, Who answers supplications and relieves afflictions. I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah alone without partner, and I bear witness that Muḥammad is His servant and Messenger. May Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him in abundance.
To proceed: Fear Allah, servants of Allah, with true fear of Him, and be mindful of Him in private and in public:
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 as Muslims” [Āl ʿImrān: 102].
Servants of Allah:
While the Prophet ﷺ was sitting in his house with ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her), a woman came complaining about her husband who had declared ẓihār from her (saying to her: You are to me as my mother’s back).
ʿĀʾishah, sitting in a corner of the room, heard some of her words but some were hidden from her. The woman said: “O Messenger of Allah, he has consumed my youth and I bore him children, and now when I am old and no longer bear children, he pronounces ẓihār from me. O Allah, I complain to You.”
Moments later, Jibrīl came down with revelation, and the Prophet ﷺ recited the words of Allah:
قَدْ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ قَوْلَ الَّتِي تُجَادِلُكَ فِي زَوْجِهَا وَتَشْتَكِي إِلَى اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ يَسْمَعُ تَحَاوُرَكُمَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ
“Allah has indeed heard the statement of she who argues with you concerning her husband and complains to Allah. Allah hears your dialogue; indeed, Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing” [Sūrat al-Mujādilah: 1].
ʿĀʾishah was amazed and said: “Blessed is He Whose Hearing encompasses all things! I heard the words of Khaulah bint Thaʿlabah, but some of what she said was hidden from me, while she complained about her husband to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”
Allah is the All-Hearing, Whose Hearing encompasses all voices. He hears all of His creation at once, He hears secrets and private words and that which is even more hidden. He hears the tumult of voices, in different languages, with their diverse needs. One hearing does not distract Him from another, nor does one voice confuse Him with another.
His Hearing encompasses everything. He hears the movement of a black ant on a smooth rock in a dark night.
There is no creature except that it glorifies Him with His praise—angels, humans, jinn, birds, beasts—even rocks and pebbles, He hears their glorification by His power.
He is the All-Hearing because He is the true God. How could a god be deaf, unable to hear? The true King describes Himself:
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ
“There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing” [Sūrat al-Shūrā: 11].
As for all false rivals besides Him, He, the Exalted King, said:
ذَلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَالَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِهِ مَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِنْ قِطْمِيرٍ * إِنْ تَدْعُوهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُوا دُعَاءَكُمْ وَلَوْ سَمِعُوا مَا اسْتَجَابُوا لَكُمْ وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَكْفُرُونَ بِشِرْكِكُمْ وَلَا يُنَبِّئُكَ مِثْلُ خَبِيرٍ
“That is Allah, your Lord; His is the dominion. Those you call upon besides Him do not own even the membrane of a date stone. If you call upon them, they do not hear your supplication, and if they were to hear, they could not respond to you. On the Day of Resurrection, they will disown your association. None can inform you like the All-Aware” [Sūrat Fāṭir: 13–14].
Did not Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him) stand before his father who worshipped idols, saying:
يَا أَبَتِ لِمَ تَعْبُدُ مَا لَا يَسْمَعُ وَلَا يُبْصِرُ وَلَا يُغْنِي عَنْكَ شَيْئًا
“O my father, why do you worship that which does not hear, nor see, and cannot benefit you at all?” [Sūrat Maryam: 42].
And he said to his people who associated partners with Allah, criticizing their idols:
هَلْ يَسْمَعُونَكُمْ إِذْ تَدْعُونَ
“Do they hear you when you call?” [Sūrat al-Shuʿarāʾ: 72].
Servant of Allah:
The believer in Allah, the All-Hearing Whose Hearing encompasses all voices, finds tranquility in his heart and relies only upon Allah. Have you not heard His saying:
وَكَأَيِّنْ مِنْ دَابَّةٍ لَا تَحْمِلُ رِزْقَهَا اللَّهُ يَرْزُقُهَا وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
“How many a creature does not carry its provision—Allah provides for it and for you. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing” [Sūrat al-ʿAnkabūt: 60].
The Lord of the worlds commanded Mūsā and his brother Hārūn (peace be upon them) to go to Pharaoh. Fear crept into them because of Pharaoh’s tyranny, so they said:
رَبَّنَا إِنَّنَا نَخَافُ أَنْ يَفْرُطَ عَلَيْنَا أَوْ أَنْ يَطْغَى * قَالَ لَا تَخَافَا إِنَّنِي مَعَكُمَا أَسْمَعُ وَأَرَى
“Our Lord, indeed we fear that he may hasten against us or transgress” * He said: ‘Fear not. Indeed, I am with you both; I hear and I see’” [Sūrat Ṭā Hā: 45–46].
That is the essence of tranquility: “Fear not. Indeed, I am with you both; I hear and I see.”
The Prophet ﷺ went to Ṭāʾif calling its people to tawḥīd. They attacked him on the hardest day he ever faced. Then Jibrīl came to him saying: “Allah has heard the words of your people to you and how they responded. He has sent the Angel of the Mountains for you to command him as you wish regarding them.”
The Angel of the Mountains greeted the Prophet ﷺ and said: “O Muḥammad, if you wish, I will crush them between the two mountains.” The Prophet ﷺ replied: “Rather, I hope that Allah will bring from their descendants those who worship Allah alone without associating anything with Him.” Narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim.
It is faith in Allah and His Names and Attributes that makes the believer advance in establishing the religion of Allah, relying upon his Lord who said:
وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى الْعَزِيزِ الرَّحِيمِ * الَّذِي يَرَاكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ * وَتَقَلُّبَكَ فِي السَّاجِدِينَ * إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
“And rely upon the Mighty, the Merciful, who sees you when you stand, and your movements among those who prostrate. Indeed, He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing” [Sūrat al-Shuʿarāʾ: 217–220].
The believing servant who acknowledges the greatness of Allah’s hearing obeys his Lord, who hears what is hidden and what is declared, and is content that Allah hears him. It does not matter whether people hear him or ignore him, for Allah alone suffices as the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.
You, O worshipper, when you stand before your Lord in prayer, you believe that you are addressing Him, and He hears you and responds to you. How great is the comfort of being with the Lord of the worlds!
Allah says in the Divine narration: “I have divided the prayer between Myself and My servant into two halves, and for My servant is what he asks. When the servant says: ‘All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds,’ Allah says: ‘My servant has praised Me.’ When he says: ‘The Most Merciful, the Compassionate,’ Allah says: ‘My servant has extolled Me.’ When he says: ‘Master of the Day of Judgment,’ Allah says: ‘My servant has glorified Me.’ When he says: ‘You alone we worship, and You alone we seek for help,’ Allah says: ‘This is between Me and My servant, and for My servant is what he asks.’ And when he says: ‘Guide us to the straight path, the path of those upon whom You have bestowed Your favor, not of those who have incurred anger nor of those who have gone astray,’ Allah says: ‘This is for My servant, and for My servant is what he asks.” Narrated by Muslim.
The believer in Allah’s hearing is certain that Allah has heard and answered him. The Prophet ﷺ said: “When you pray, straighten your rows, then let one of you lead. When he says the takbīr, then say the takbīr. When he recites ‘not of those who have incurred anger nor of those who have gone astray,’ say ‘Āmīn,’ Allah will answer you. And when he says: ‘Allah hears the one who praises Him,’ then say: ‘O Allah, our Lord, to You belongs all praise,’ Allah hears you. Indeed, Allah, Blessed and Exalted, has said through the tongue of His Prophet ﷺ: ‘Allah hears the one who praises Him.” Narrated by Muslim.
The believer who acknowledges the greatness of Allah’s hearing is not harmed by whether people hear his obedience or not; it is enough that Allah has heard.
Allah has warned those who seek to make people hear of their deeds. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever makes his deeds known for people to hear, Allah will expose him, and whoever shows off, Allah will expose him.” Narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim.
The believer who acknowledges the greatness of Allah’s hearing calls upon his Lord with humility and in private, certain that Allah is All-Hearing, Near, and Responsive. You do not need to raise your voice for Him to hear; whenever you call upon Him, He answers.
The Prophet ﷺ, during one of his journeys, heard his companions raising their voices with takbīr and tahlīl, so he said to them: “O people, be gentle with yourselves. You are not calling upon one who is deaf or absent, but you are calling upon One who is All-Hearing, All-Seeing, Near, and He is with you.” Narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim.
Allah heard the supplication of Zakariyyā, peace be upon him, though it was hidden.
He said:
ذِكْرُ رَحْمَتِ رَبِّكَ عَبْدَهُ زَكَرِيَّا * إِذْ نَادَى رَبَّهُ نِدَاءً خَفِيًّا * قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي وَهَنَ الْعَظْمُ مِنِّي وَاشْتَعَلَ الرَّأْسُ شَيْبًا وَلَمْ أَكُنْ بِدُعَائِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيًّا
“This is a mention of your Lord’s mercy to His servant Zakariyyā, when he called upon his Lord with a hidden call, saying: ‘My Lord, indeed my bones have weakened, and my head is filled with gray, and never have I been in my supplication to You, my Lord, unblessed.’” [Maryam: 2–4]
Allah heard Yūsuf, peace be upon him, when he called upon Him to protect him from the schemes of the women, and He answered him, for He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing:
قَالَ رَبِّ السِّجْنُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا يَدْعُونَنِي إِلَيْهِ وَإِلَّا تَصْرِفْ عَنِّي كَيْدَهُنَّ أَصْبُ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَأَكُنْ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ * فَاسْتَجَابَ لَهُ رَبُّهُ فَصَرَفَ عَنْهُ كَيْدَهُنَّ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
“He said: ‘My Lord, prison is more beloved to me than that to which they invite me. And if You do not avert their plot from me, I might incline toward them and be of the ignorant.’ So his Lord responded to him and averted their plot from him. Indeed, He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.” [Yūsuf: 33–34]
Allah heard His Prophet Yūnus, peace be upon him, calling Him from within the darkness:
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ * فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْغَمِّ وَكَذَلِكَ نُنْجِي الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
“There is no deity except You, glory be to You, indeed I was among the wrongdoers. So We answered him and saved him from distress, and thus We save the believers.” [al-Anbiyā’: 87–88]
And you, O servant of Allah, are surrounded by devils, and there is no escape from their whispers except by seeking refuge in Allah, the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. He said:
وَإِمَّا يَنْزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
“And if a whisper from Satan should come to you, then seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.” [Fussilat: 36]
Be assured that if you seek refuge in Him, He will suffice you, for He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing, who said:
فَسَيَكْفِيكَهُمُ اللَّهُ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
“So Allah will suffice you against them, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.” [al-Baqarah: 137]
May Allah bless me and you in the Great Qur’an, and benefit me and you with what is in it of verses and wise remembrance. I seek Allah’s forgiveness for me and for you, so seek His forgiveness. Indeed, He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
The Second Sermon:
All praise is due to Allah, and may prayers and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, his companions, and those who follow him. To proceed:
The believer who acknowledges the greatness of Allah’s hearing fears Allah in what he says, certain that Allah hears his words and will hold him accountable for them.
Reflect on the verse concerning divorce, how Allah concluded it with His words:
وَإِنْ عَزَمُوا الطَّلَاقَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
“And if they decide on divorce—indeed Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.” [al-Baqarah: 227]
How many men divorce their wives and then deny it while knowing the truth—so what will their state be when Allah, the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing, questions them?
The believer who acknowledges the greatness of Allah’s hearing feels ashamed to let Allah hear from him what displeases Him. He knows that Allah hears and sees, so he does not utter anything except good.
Has not the servant who speaks words that anger Allah heard His statement:
أَمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّا لَا نَسْمَعُ سِرَّهُمْ وَنَجْوَاهُمْ بَلَى وَرُسُلُنَا لَدَيْهِمْ يَكْتُبُونَ
“Or do they think that We do not hear their secrets and private counsel? Yes We do, and Our messengers [i.e. angels] are with them recording.” [al-Zukhruf: 80]
ʿAbd Allāh ibn Masʿūd, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “A Qurashī and a Thaqafī—or two Thaqafīs and a Qurashī—gathered near the House. Their bellies were fat but their hearts had little understanding. One of them said: ‘Do you think Allah hears what we say?’ Another said: ‘He hears us if we speak aloud but not if we whisper.’ The third said: ‘If He hears us when we speak aloud, then surely He hears us when we whisper.’ So Allah, Mighty and Majestic, revealed:
وَمَا كُنْتُمْ تَسْتَتِرُونَ أَنْ يَشْهَدَ عَلَيْكُمْ سَمْعُكُمْ وَلَا أَبْصَارُكُمْ وَلَا جُلُودُكُمْ وَلَكِنْ ظَنَنْتُمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَعْلَمُ كَثِيرًا مِمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
‘And you did not seek to hide yourselves lest your hearing testify against you, or your sight, or your skins; but you assumed that Allah does not know much of what you do.’ [Fussilat: 22]” Narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim.
O Allah, grant victory to Islam and honor to the Muslims, and destroy the disbelieving criminals. O Allah, send tranquility upon the hearts of those striving in Your path, rescue Your oppressed servants, and raise high the banner of the religion, by Your power, O Strong, O Firm.
O Allah, grant us safety in our homelands, rectify our leaders and those in authority over us, and entrust our affairs to those who fear You, are mindful of You, and seek Your pleasure.
Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
