Año de la Comunidad

First Sermon: All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all creation, who has encouraged the cohesion of communities and societies. We bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and we bear witness that our master and Prophet Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. May Allah send His peace, blessings, and mercy upon him, his family, his companions, and those who loyally support him. As for what follows: I enjoin you, O servants of Allah, and myself to fear Allah. The Almighty has said: ﴿يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاءً وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءَلُونَ بِهِ وَالْأَرْحَامَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا﴾ “O mankind! Fear your Lord, who created you from a single soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women. And fear Allah, through whom you ask one another, and the wombs. Indeed, Allah is ever, over you, an Observer.” O worshippers, we live in the shade of the Year of Community, an initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, President of the UAE—may Allah protect him. The community is the fabric that represents our cohesion, the foundation that strengthens our unity, the pillar that fortifies our bonds, and the mirror that reflects our progress and prosperity. Our duty is to be a firm building block in its edifice and a strong support in its structure, each from his own station and in accordance with his personal responsibility, which must be carried out, for as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: «‌كُلُّكُمْ مَسْؤُولٌ» “… and each of you is responsible ...” O servants of Allah, the Year of Community obliges us to feel empathy for the individuals within our community—to find joy in their joy, to feel pain in their pain, and to be sociable and amicable in our interaction with them, embodying the words of our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): «الْمُؤْمِنُ مَأْلَفَةٌ، وَلَا خَيْرَ فِيمَنْ ‌لَا ‌يَأْلَفُ ‌وَلَا ‌يُؤْلَفُ» “The believer is sociable, and there is no good in one who neither socializes with others nor others with him.” This leads us to become [in the words of the the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)]: «كَالْبُنْيَانِ، يَشُدُّ بَعْضُهُ بَعْضًا» “… like a building, each part reinforcing the other.” The community is one soul and one body, as he also said: «إِذَا اشْتَكَى مِنْهُ عُضْوٌ تَدَاعَى لَهُ سَائِرُ الْجَسَدِ بِالسَّهَرِ وَالْحُمَّى» “If a limb complains, the rest of the body responds with sleeplessness and fever (in solidarity with the limb).” Each of its members wishes goodness for others and loves for them what they love for themselves, driven by the words of their beloved Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): «‌لَا ‌يُؤْمِنُ ‌أَحَدُكُمْ ‌حَتَّى ‌يُحِبَّ لِأَخِيهِ مَا يُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِهِ» “None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” They are certain that any goodness one extends returns to benefit the entire community. These are the children of the community—whose hearts united in love for their community, whose efforts combine in service to their community, and whose hands work together to elevate their community, acting upon the command of their Lord: ﴿وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى﴾ “And cooperate in righteousness and piety.” Do communities progress except through the commitment of their members to their faith, their awareness and knowledge, their creativity and innovation, their contributions and initiatives, their sacrifices and diligence, and their assumption of responsibilities? Every person in the community is accountable for what is in his charge. He is responsible for himself, his faith and worship, his health, his children, his family, his work, his profession, and the resources of his community and country. This is further reiterated by the words of the poet: العُمْرُ يَمْضِي وَالزَّمَانُ يَرْحَلُ *** وَكُلُّنَا عَنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ يُسْأَلُ Life moves forward, and time passes, and each of us shall be questioned about everything. O servants of Allah, the Year of Community is an occasion for each of us to reflect on his relationship with his family, for the family is the nucleus of the community and a fundamental pillar of its structure. The community can only be stable when the family is stable, and the community can only gain strength through the reinforcement of the bonds within the family. So, fear Allah, and let it be reiterated, fear Allah regarding your families; build them upon taqwā (God-fearingness) and love, nurture them with affection, so they may raise generations steadfast in their faith and values, distinguished in their knowledge, creative in their thinking, refined in their conduct, contributing to the building of their community—sustaining its existence, renewing its vigour, carrying the banner of its progress, striving to elevate its status, develop its resources, and sustain its wealth with wise planning of its future through sound knowledge and proper understanding. Fear Allah, and let it be reiterated, fear Allah, O community, regarding your parents—treat them with kindness and honor them, acting upon the words of the Lord of the worlds: ﴿وَقَضَى رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِنْدَكَ الْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُلْ لَهُمَا أُفٍّ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا ‌وَقُلْ ‌لَهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيمًا * وَاخْفِضْ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ الذُّلِّ مِنَ الرَّحْمَةِ وَقُلْ رَبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا﴾ “And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age with you, say not to them ‘uff’ and do not repel them, but speak to them a noble word. And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, ‘My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small. Fear Allah, again, fear Allah, regarding your relatives—maintain your ties with them, assist the weak among them, and support and console those in need, for that is among their rights upon you. Allah the Almighty says: ﴿فَآتِ ‌ذَا ‌الْقُرْبَى ‌حَقَّهُ﴾ “And give the relative his right.” Be kind to your neighbors and honor them, so that your faith may be complete and your Lord pleased with you, as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: «وَأَحْسِنْ ‌إِلَى ‌جَارِكَ تَكُنْ مُؤْمِنًا» “And be good to your neighbor, and you will be a believer.” O Allah, make us of those who are beneficial to our community, who reinforce its strength, and who strive diligently for its prosperity. Guide us to obey You and to obey those whom You have commanded us to obey in Your words: ﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ﴾ “O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you.” I say these words and seek forgiveness from Allah, my Lord, and yours. Second Sermon: All praise is due to Allah alone. May peace and blessings be upon the one after whom there is no prophet, upon his family, his companions, and those who follow his guidance. As for what follows: O you who are loyal and faithful to your community! A strong community is the result of the combined efforts of its outstanding members. Therefore, be outstanding in your respective fields and specializations, fulfill all your roles with sincerity, leave your mark, exert your efforts, and perfect your work, keeping in mind the saying of your Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): «إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ إِذَا عَمِلَ أَحَدُكُمْ عَمَلًا أَنْ ‌يُتْقِنَهُ» Indeed, Allah loves that when one of you performs a task, he does it with excellence. Observe your Lord in your duties, do not neglect your responsibilities, and do not waste your time. Every positive action strengthens the structure of community, increases its resilience and grandeur, whereas every negative action is a point of weakness in its walls. Be the best ambassadors of your community, upholding its morals, values, customs, and traditions, so that you may be among those about whom the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: «إِنَّ مِنْ أَحَبِّكُمْ إِلَيَّ ‌وَأَقْرَبِكُمْ ‌مِنِّي ‌مَجْلِسًا ‌يَوْمَ ‌القِيَامَةِ أَحَاسِنَكُمْ أَخْلَاقًا» The most beloved of you to me and the closest to me on the Day of Judgment are those of you with the best character. It is imperative for the members of the community (and society at large) to be aware of their affairs, understand the challenges their community faces, and contribute to addressing them with a positive spirit, avoiding negativity. No community exists without challenges, but true strength lies in dealing with challenges wisely and transforming them into achievements with dedication and optimism. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: «إِذَا قَالَ الرَّجُلُ ‌هَلَكَ ‌النَّاسُ، فَهُوَ أَهْلَكُهُمْ» If a man says, 'The people are ruined,' he is the most ruined among them. So, O members of the community, be optimistic about your future and seek insight from the wise leadership and its sound vision so that our community remains strong, advancing towards the future with firm steps and confident strides. O Allah, send Your peace and blessings upon our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, his family, companions, and followers. Be pleased with Abū Bakr, ʿUmar, ʿUthmān, and ʿAlī, and all the noble companions. O Allah, make us of those who have faith in You, worship You, turn to You in repentance, take care of our community, support its prosperity and dutiful to our parents, and have mercy on them as they raised us when we were young, O Most Merciful of the merciful. O Allah, grant the UAE continued stability, progress, and prosperity. Bestow well-being upon us, bless us in our provisions, our spouses, and our offspring. O Allah, guide the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, his deputies, his brothers, the rulers of the Emirates, and his loyal Crown Prince, to all that You love and are pleased with. O Allah, have mercy on Sheikh Zayed, Sheikh Rashid, and the founding leaders, and admit them by Your grace into the vastness of Your Paradise. Include the martyrs of our homeland in Your mercy and forgiveness. O Allah, have mercy on the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, those who are alive and those who have passed away. O Allah, send us rain and do not make us among those who despair. O Allah, shower us with rain, O Allah, shower us with rain, O Allah, shower us with rain. ﴿‌رَبَّنَا ‌آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ﴾ “Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” Servants of Allah: Remember Allah, the Great and Glorious, and He will remember you, and thank Him for His blessings and He will increase you (in blessings). Establish the prayer.