Elements of the Sermon
1- What it means that Allah has perfected His creation.
2- Signs of this perfection in the universe and the human being.
3- The fruits of believing in the perfection of Allah’s creation and commands.
The First Sermon
All praise belongs to Allah, who created everything and made His creation beautiful, who determined all things and perfected His work. I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without any partner, and I testify that Muḥammad is His servant and Messenger. May Allah send abundant blessings and peace upon him.
To proceed:
O servants of Allah, fear Allah as He deserves to be feared, and remain mindful of Him in private and in your most secret conversations. Allah says:
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.” [Sūrat Āl ʿImrān: 102].
O servant of Allah!
How many times have you wanted to stretch out your hand and done so effortlessly? Let me ask myself and you: When was the last time we thanked Allah for the blessing of our joints?
Do not be surprised, for the Prophet ﷺ told us: “Every human being among the children of Adam was created with 360 joints. Whoever declares Allah’s greatness, praises Allah, proclaims His oneness, glorifies Allah, seeks His forgiveness, removes a stone, a thorn, or a bone from people’s path, or enjoins what is right or forbids what is wrong, doing so as many times as the number of those 360 joints, will reach the evening of that day having distanced himself from the Fire.” [Narrated by Muslim].
There are 360 joints in your body, connecting your bones. Without these joints, you would not be able to move. Glory be to the One who created the human being, fashioned him, and gave him a balanced form.
O servants of Allah!
Allah is the Magnificent Creator, who created everything and made it beautiful, and who perfected everything He made. Allah, Glorified be He, says:
ذَلِكَ عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ * الَّذِي أَحْسَنَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقَهُ
“That is the Knower of the unseen and the seen, the Almighty, the Most Merciful, who perfected everything He created.” [Sūrat al-Sajdah: 6–7].
And He says:
صُنْعَ اللَّهِ الَّذِي أَتْقَنَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ إِنَّهُ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَفْعَلُونَ
“This is the work of Allah, who has perfected everything. Indeed, He is fully aware of what you do.” [Sūrat al-Naml: 88].
Our Lord is the All-Knowing, whose mercy and knowledge encompass everything. He is the All-Wise, who has perfected everything in its creation and determination.
There is not a single creature that Allah has created without fashioning it, giving it a beautiful form, and perfecting its creation. He is the One who says:
سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى * الَّذِي خَلَقَ فَسَوَّى
“Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High, who created and fashioned everything in perfect proportion.” [Sūrat al-Aʿlā: 1–2].
When Pharaoh asked Mūsā (peace be upon him) about his Lord, Mūsā replied:
قَالَ رَبُّنَا الَّذِي أَعْطَى كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلْقَهُ ثُمَّ هَدَى
“Our Lord is the One who gave everything its form and then guided it.” [Sūrat Ṭā Hā: 50].
Do you know what is meant by “who gave everything its form and then guided it”?
Everything Allah created has a purpose and a wisdom behind it. He did not create anything in vain. Rather, He perfected everything and gave each creature its complete form, creating it in the way best suited to it.
He created everything according to a precise measure. Indeed, every part of everything He created was made with wisdom and given a complete form suited to its well-being and sufficient for its needs. Our Lord says:
وَخَلَقَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ فَقَدَّرَهُ تَقْدِيرًا
“And He created everything and determined it with precise determination.” [Sūrat al-Furqān: 2].
The heavens, with all their planets and celestial bodies, and the earth, with all the creatures upon it—not a single atom in this universe was created without purpose or in vain. The All-Wise Creator says:
وَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاءَ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا بَاطِلًا ذَلِكَ ظَنُّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَوَيْلٌ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنَ النَّارِ
“We did not create the heaven and the earth and everything between them without purpose. That is the assumption of those who disbelieve. So woe to those who disbelieve because of the Fire.” [Sūrat Ṣād: 27].
Every single atom in His creation exists by His knowledge, wisdom, and mercy. Nothing escapes Him, and you will find no flaw or defect in His creation. Allah, Glorified be He, says:
الَّذِي خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ طِبَاقًا مَا تَرَى فِي خَلْقِ الرَّحْمَنِ مِنْ تَفَاوُتٍ فَارْجِعِ الْبَصَرَ هَلْ تَرَى مِنْ فُطُورٍ
“He is the One who created seven heavens, one above another. You will see no inconsistency in the creation of the Most Merciful. Look again. Do you see any cracks?” [Sūrat al-Mulk: 3].
Everything in this universe—the heavens and the earth, water and air, whales and birds, trees and mountains, sand and rocks—not even the smallest particle exists except in its proper place and at its appointed time, according to a calculated measure and precise proportion. Allah says:
وَالْأَرْضَ مَدَدْنَاهَا وَأَلْقَيْنَا فِيهَا رَوَاسِيَ وَأَنْبَتْنَا فِيهَا مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مَوْزُونٍ * وَجَعَلْنَا لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَعَايِشَ وَمَنْ لَسْتُمْ لَهُ بِرَازِقِينَ * وَإِنْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ إِلَّا عِنْدَنَا خَزَائِنُهُ وَمَا نُنَزِّلُهُ إِلَّا بِقَدَرٍ مَعْلُومٍ
.“And We spread out the earth, placed firm mountains upon it, and caused everything to grow upon it in due proportion. And We placed within it means of livelihood for you and for those whom you do not provide for. And there is nothing except that its treasures are with Us, and We send it down only in a known measure.” [Sūrat al-Ḥijr: 19–21].
The movement of the celestial bodies, the sun and the moon, the night and the day—all of this follows an extremely precise order. If it were to change from its present state, the order of the universe would be disrupted and human life would be harmed. Allah says:
وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِي لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَهَا ذَلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ * وَالْقَمَرَ قَدَّرْنَاهُ مَنَازِلَ حَتَّى عَادَ كَالْعُرْجُونِ الْقَدِيمِ * لَا الشَّمْسُ يَنْبَغِي لَهَا أَنْ تُدْرِكَ الْقَمَرَ وَلَا اللَّيْلُ سَابِقُ النَّهَارِ وَكُلٌّ فِي فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ
“And the sun travels toward its appointed resting place. That is the determination of the Almighty, the All-Knowing. And for the moon, We have determined phases until it returns like an old, curved palm stalk. The sun cannot overtake the moon, nor can the night outrun the day. Each travels in its own orbit.” [Sūrat Yā Sīn: 38–40].
It is Allah, the Best of Creators, who has honored you, O human being, and created you in the best form. Allah, Glorified be He, says:
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ سُلَالَةٍ مِنْ طِينٍ * ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَاهُ نُطْفَةً فِي قَرَارٍ مَكِينٍ * ثُمَّ خَلَقْنَا النُّطْفَةَ عَلَقَةً فَخَلَقْنَا الْعَلَقَةَ مُضْغَةً فَخَلَقْنَا الْمُضْغَةَ عِظَامًا فَكَسَوْنَا الْعِظَامَ لَحْمًا ثُمَّ أَنْشَأْنَاهُ خَلْقًا آخَرَ فَتَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِينَ
“We certainly created man from an extract of clay. Then We placed him as a drop of fluid in a secure resting place. Then We made the drop into a clinging substance, then made the clinging substance into a lump of flesh, then made the lump into bones, then clothed the bones with flesh, and then brought him into being as another creation. So blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators.” [Sūrat al-Muʾminūn: 12–14].
Allah has commanded you to reflect upon this vast universe and upon the smaller world that is your own self. He says:
وَفِي الْأَرْضِ آيَاتٌ لِلْمُوقِنِينَ * وَفِي أَنْفُسِكُمْ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ
“And on the earth are signs for those who have certainty, and within yourselves as well. Will you not then see?” [Sūrat al-Dhāriyāt: 20–21].
Have you ever reflected upon how wonderfully Allah created you, how perfectly He fashioned you, and how precisely everything within you has been designed?
Your body contains eleven organ systems. Each system is like an entire industrial city, filled with functions that work together in harmony. Each performs remarkable tasks that you cannot do without, even for the blink of an eye.
And all these systems work together in perfect harmony and amazing coordination to make you the human being you are.
Have you ever reflected upon the food that Allah has created for human beings, with its different compositions, nutrients, and flavors? And have you considered your stomach, which is like a fully equipped factory?
It receives all the different kinds of food a person eats, breaks them down, and passes them into the intestines, where their nutrients are absorbed. These nutrients are then carried through the blood vessels to more than thirty trillion cells, supplying each cell with the substances it needs to perform its functions.
All of this takes place in precisely measured, suitable, and continuous amounts. It never stops as long as life continues. Meanwhile, waste products are expelled from the body through different openings.
Have you ever asked yourself how you feel pain and happiness, and how you respond to everything happening around you—to sounds, light, smells, beauty, and ugliness?
Have you ever reflected upon how you think and recall what you have learned? How you love and how you hate?
The nervous system is an astonishing sign of how perfectly Allah, the Most High, has created everything.
It is a harmonious system consisting of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. It receives an enormous flow of signals carrying information from every part of the body and from the world outside.
It then analyzes and processes this information before sending the appropriate commands in response to every internal or external event. These commands take the form of signals sent to the organs and cells of the body, serving the well-being of the human being and protecting him from harm.
All of this happens at every moment, in response to every event, and throughout the cells of your body, whether you are aware of it or not.
Have you ever thought about something as simple as picking up a pen to write your name? How does that happen?
How do the brain and nervous system work together with the muscular and skeletal systems? How do the nerves coordinate with the muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones, joints, and cartilage? An idea forms in your mind, and you want to express it with your pen.
The cells in your brain bring to mind the word you want to write, its letters, their shapes, and their order—even the beautiful appearance you have imagined for it.
Your brain then prepares the movements needed to complete this task. It sends commands in the form of nerve signals to the muscles of your arm, hand, and fingers, while sending other signals to your eyes so that you can see what you are writing.
And there you are, holding your pen and writing with your fingers. All of this takes place in the blink of an eye, by the power of the All-Knowing, All-Wise.
How can those who deny the truth claim that all of this is meaningless or the result of mere chance, when wisdom and perfection can be seen in every particle and every creature on the face of the earth? Have you ever asked yourself about what is known as ecological balance?
Modern science recognizes that everything on earth exists in measured balance. There is no living creature or element of the universe that is without benefit or has come into existence without purpose. Rather, everything works in harmony with the rest of the universe, making life on this earth possible.
This perfection and precise order provide conclusive evidence of a Maker who possesses complete knowledge, perfect wisdom, and power over all things.
If people in this world find it unreasonable for an intelligent person to do something without purpose, then what should we think of the One who created human minds and placed knowledge within them?!
May Allah bless you and me through the Noble Qur’ān and benefit us through its verses and wise reminders. I seek Allah’s forgiveness for myself and for you, so seek His forgiveness. Indeed, He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
The Second Sermon
All praise belongs to Allah. May Allah send blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, his Companions, and all those who follow him.
To proceed:
This perfection in the Creator’s work requires you to believe in Him as the one true God, without any partner.
For Allah, Glorified be He, is not only the sole Creator of everything. He has also made His creation beautiful, perfected it, and established it with precise order. For this reason, Allah says:
وَإِنَّ إِلْيَاسَ لَمِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ * إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ * أَتَدْعُونَ بَعْلًا وَتَذَرُونَ أَحْسَنَ الْخَالِقِينَ * اللَّهَ رَبَّكُمْ وَرَبَّ آبَائِكُمُ الْأَوَّلِينَ
“And indeed, Ilyās was among the messengers. When he said to his people, ‘Will you not fear Allah? Do you call upon Baʿl and abandon the Best of Creators—Allah, your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers?’” [Sūrat al-Ṣāffāt: 123–126].
This perfection also requires you to submit to Allah alone, surrender to His commands, and accept His judgments.
This is why, when the Prophet ﷺ prostrated, he would praise his Lord by saying: “O Allah, to You I have prostrated, in You I have believed, and to You I have submitted. My face has prostrated to the One who created it, fashioned it, and gave it hearing and sight. Blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators.” [Narrated by Muslim].
You must submit to His judgments because the All-Wise, who has made everything in His creation and in His universal decree beautiful, precise, and perfect, has also made everything in His religious laws and commands beautiful, precise, and perfect.
There is no command or prohibition except that it is based upon wisdom and serves a profound purpose. There is no contradiction or conflict in Allah’s religion. Allah, Glorified be He, says:
أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِنْدِ غَيْرِ اللَّهِ لَوَجَدُوا فِيهِ اخْتِلَافًا كَثِيرًا
“Do they not reflect upon the Qur’ān? Had it been from anyone other than Allah, they would certainly have found many contradictions in it.” [Sūrat al-Nisāʾ: 82].
There is no law prescribed by the Lord of all worlds except that it is established with perfect wisdom, through which human beings can attain completeness and achieve what is best for them in this world and the Hereafter.
This perfection is found in the very basis of each law, its nature, its timing, and its prescribed measure. Allah speaks the truth when He says:
أَفَحُكْمَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ يَبْغُونَ وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ اللَّهِ حُكْمًا لِقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ
.“Is it the judgment of the Age of Ignorance that they seek? And who is better than Allah in judgment for people who have certainty?” [Sūrat al-Māʾidah: 50].
O Allah, help us and do not help others against us. Grant us victory and do not grant others victory over us. Plan in our favor and not against us, and grant us victory over those who wrong us.
O Allah, grant us safety in our homelands, reform our leaders and those in authority over us, and place authority over us in the hands of those who fear You, are mindful of You, and seek Your pleasure.
O Allah, support our oppressed brothers in Gaza and everywhere, and grant them victory and relief soon.
O servants of Allah! Remember Allah often and glorify Him in the morning and evening.
And our final prayer is: All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all worlds.
