And glorify Him with great glorification

The First Khutbah All praise is due to Allah, the Most High, the Most Great. Creator of all things, and He is over all things competent ﴿وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ﴾ We bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, and we bear witness that our master and prophet, Muhammad, is the Messenger of Allah. May Allah’s peace, blessings, and salutations be upon him, his family, his companions, and those who follow them with righteousness. To proceed: I enjoin you, servants of Allah, and myself to have taqwa of Allah. The Exalted said: ﴿إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ﴾. “Indeed, the righteous will be among gardens and springs O believers, O you who repeat in these days: Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar raising the call of glorification to the Lord of the Worlds. This timeless call, which flows from the depths of your hearts and springs from the core of your souls, is a call of innate nature (fitrah). The Messenger of Allah ﷺ once heard someone proclaiming: Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, and he said:  «عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِ».          Upon the fitrah.  The sound, upright nature (fitrah) recognizes that Allah is greater than all things in His majesty and exalted above all things in His power. He is “The Most Great, The Most High  ﴿الْكَبِيرُ الْمُتَعَالِ﴾  glorified is He. He commanded His Prophet ﷺ to exalt and magnify Him, saying: ﴿وَرَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرْ﴾ “And magnify your Lord” and:   ﴿وَكَبِّرْهُ تَكْبِيرًا﴾ And magnify Him with all magnificence Indeed, “Allahu Akbar” is the most powerful expression in the Arabic language for declaring reverence and exaltation. So, who is greater than Allah? Who is greater than Him to whom you pour out your worries, and He removes your distress? ﴿أَمَّنْ يُجِيبُ الْمُضْطَرَّ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَيَكْشِفُ السُّوءَ﴾ “Is He [not best] who responds to the desperate one when he calls upon Him and removes evil?” There is no god but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest. O you who remember and glorify Allah abundantly, Reflect upon your acts of worship, and you will find that “Allahu Akbar” the proclamation of Allah’s greatness, is present in many of your sacred rituals. This is so that you may be constantly reminded that Allah is greater than anything that distracts you from obeying Him or diverts you from worshipping Him. With takbeer (saying Allahu Akbar) the call to prayer (adhan) begins, the very gateway to your entrance into the prayer. It marks your transitions between the positions within it. During Hajj, and when offering your sacrifice, you proclaim His greatness. You begin your travel supplication with it a declaration of your certainty that Allah is greater than every danger, and He is the One who delivers you from every harm ﴿قُلْ مَنْ يُنَجِّيكُمْ مِنْ ظُلُمَاتِ الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ تَدْعُونَهُ تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفْيَةً لَئِنْ أَنْجَانَا مِنْ هَذِهِ لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الشَّاكِرِينَ * قُلِ اللَّهُ﴾. “Say, who rescues you from the darknesses of the land and sea when you call upon Him humbly and privately: ‘If He should save us from this, we will surely be among the thankful’? Say, Allah  …” So, magnify Him often, exalt Him greatly as He has shown you much grace, bestowed countless favors, and given beyond measure. “O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you.” (Surah An-Nisa, 4:59) I say this, and I ask Allah’s forgiveness for myself and for you. So, seek His forgiveness—for He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful. The Second Khutbah: All praise is due to Allah as is rightly His due, and may peace and blessings be upon the one after whom there is no prophet. To proceed: O believers, increase your takbeer during these blessed days, for it is among the symbols of Allah. ﴿وَمَنْ يُعَظِّمْ شَعَائِرَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا مِنْ تَقْوَى الْقُلُوبِ﴾. “And whoever honors the symbols of Allah, indeed, it is from the piety of hearts.” It is among the most beloved words to Allah, and among the nearest to Him. In fact, it is better than this world and all that it contains. Whoever magnifies his Lord with takbeer is given glad tidings of Paradise. The Prophet ﷺ said: «مَا كَبَّرَ مُكَبِّرٌ قَطُّ إِلاَّ بُشِّرَ». “No one ever says takbeer but that he is given glad tidings.” He was asked: “O Messenger of Allah, of Paradise?”  He replied: “Yes.” So, glorify Allah in the morning and in the evening. Proclaim His greatness so that your takbeer fills the surroundings. Say “Allahu Akbar” at every need and in every supplication. Proclaim His greatness, and your needs will be fulfilled, and your affairs will be made easy. And send blessings and peace upon your beloved Prophet. O Allah, send Your blessings and peace upon our Master Muhammad, and upon his family, companions, and all who follow them in righteousness. O Allah, be pleased with Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali, and with all the noble Companions. O Allah, continue to bless the United Arab Emirates with stability, progress, and prosperity. O Allah, guide the President of the State, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, his deputies, his brothers the rulers of the Emirates, and his trustworthy Crown Prince to all that You love and are pleased with. O Allah, have mercy on Sheikh Zayed, Sheikh Rashid, the founding leaders, and Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed. Admit them by Your grace into the vastness of Your Paradise, and envelop the martyrs of the nation in Your mercy and forgiveness. ﴿‌رَبَّنَا ‌آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ﴾. “Our Lord, grant us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” O servants of Allah: Remember Allah, the Almighty, the Majestic, He will remember you. Give thanks to Him for His blessings He will increase you. And establish the prayer