Loyalty is a Principle

The First Sermon All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the heavens and the earth, who loves His loyal servants. I testify that there is nothing worthy of worship except Allah, and I testify that our Prophet Muhammad is His Messenger, the seal of the prophets. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, his family, and his righteous companions. To continue: I advise you and myself to have taqwa towards Allah, as He says: إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ ‌مُحْسِنُونَ Indeed, Allah is with those who fear Him and those who are doers of good. [Surah al-Nahl: 128] O Believers: Shall I not inform you of the most noble in character, the most honourable in their conduct, and the highest in status and rank? They are the loyal ones—people of noble souls and refined manners. They acknowledge the virtues of others, repay good with good, and demonstrate no betrayal or treachery. Their values are honour and integrity. For this, they are deserving of Allah's praise and the commendation of His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). About them Allah says: ‌وَالْمُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِهِمْ إِذَا عَاهَدُوا وَالصَّابِرِينَ فِي الْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَحِينَ الْبَأْسِ أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُونَ Those who fulfil their covenant when they make a promise, and those who are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle—those are the ones who have been true, and it is they who are the righteous. [Surah al-Baqarah: 177] The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said about them: أُولَئِكَ خِيَارُ عِبَادِ اللَّهِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ؛ الْمُوفُونَ الْمُطَيِّبُونَ They are the best of Allah's servants on the Day of Resurrection; the loyal and the pure-hearted. [Ahmad] These loyal individuals hold an esteemed position with their Lord, receiving great reward for Allah says: هَلْ جَزَاءُ الْإِحْسَانِ إِلَّا الْإِحْسَانُ Is there any reward for good other than good? [Surah Ar-Rahman: 60] The most loyal servants of Allah are His Prophets (peace and blessings of Allah be upon them). Their loyalty is perpetual, and history has been illuminated with their demonstration of commitment. Hence we find the likes of Prophet Ibrahim (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) being praised by Allah in the verse: وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ الَّذِي وَفَّى And of Ibrahim who fulfilled [his covenant]. (Surah An-Najm: 37) All the Prophets followed his path, being loyal to their Lord, their families, their nations, and all humanity. This was also the trait of our Prophet and beloved Messenger, Sayyiduna Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon them), about whom it was said by a poet: فَمَا حَمَلَتْ مِنْ ‌نَاقَةٍ ‌فَوْقَ ‌رَحْلِهَا أَبَرَّ وَأَوْفَى ذِمّةً مِنْ مُحَمَّدِ No camel ever bore upon its back someone more faithful in fulfilling promises than Muhammad. Among the most truthful and loyal are those who are loyal to their parents, showing kindness to them, appreciating their efforts, and praying for them both privately and publicly, as guided by Allah's words: ‌أَنِ ‌اشْكُرْ ‌لِي ‌وَلِوَالِدَيْكَ Be grateful to Me and to your parents. (Surah Luqman: 14) Whoever is loyal to their parents will earn the pleasure of their Lord and the love of people. But whoever neglects their rights will neglect the rights of others even more. Among the best of the loyal ones are those who are faithful to their families. Their example is the Messenger of Allah, who was loyal to his wife Khadijah, may Allah be pleased with her. He praised her, acknowledging her kindness, saying: قَدْ آمَنَتْ بِي إِذْ كَفَرَ بِي النَّاسُ، وَصَدَّقَتْنِي إِذْ كَذَّبَنِي النَّاسُ، وَوَاسَتْنِي بِمَالِهَا إِذْ حَرَمَنِي النَّاسُ She believed in me when people disbelieved, she testified to my truthfulness when people accused me of lying, and she supported me with her wealth when others deprived me. [Ahmad] Why, then, do some husbands deny the virtues of their wives, and some wives deny the kindness of their husbands? They forget the beautiful moments of companionship, love, and kindness. Allah reminds us: وَلَا ‌تَنْسَوُا ‌الْفَضْلَ بَيْنَكُمْ Do not forget graciousness between yourselves. (Surah Al-Baqarah: 237) O servants of Allah, let us be loyal to our friends, for they have stood with us in many situations and shared memories with us. Let us honour their friendship as our Prophet honoured his friend Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, saying: إِنَّ أَمَنَّ النَّاسِ عَلَيَّ فِي مَالِهِ وَصُحْبَتِهِ أَبُو بَكْرٍ The person who has been the most generous to me with his wealth and companionship is Abu Bakr. [Bukhari and Muslim] A truthful, loyal, pure-hearted, and trustworthy person is one who is faithful to the covenant they made with Allah regarding their homeland. They dedicate themselves to its service, protect its land, and strive for its prosperity and stability, remaining loyal to the values of its founders and leaders. From them, we draw lessons of loyalty, and from their legacy, we derive the meanings of giving. Therefore, we should turn to Allah with sincere supplication for them, thanking them and fulfilling our pledge of loyalty to them, for: ‌لَا ‌يَشْكُرُ ‌اللَّهَ مَنْ لَا يَشْكُرُ النَّاسَ He who does not thank the people does not thank Allah. [Abu Dawud] Allah says: “O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you.” (Surah An-Nisa: 59). I say this, and I seek Allah's forgiveness for myself and for you, so seek His forgiveness, for He is the most forgiving and the most merciful. The Second Sermon All praise is due to Allah in all His praises, and may peace and blessings be upon the one after whom there is no other prophet, and upon his family, his companions, and those who follow his guidance. To proceed: O servants of Allah, in times of hardship and difficulty, the loyalty of the faithful is revealed. Our dear nation, the United Arab Emirates, extends its hand of generosity to all. The clouds of its kindness never cease, nor does its aid diminish. It continues on its path, unaffected by the doubters and unbothered by those who try to hinder its efforts. It responds with compassion to the cries of the distressed and the pleas of those in need, led by the legacy of its founder, Sheikh Zayed, may Allah give rest his soul. Driven by its human conscience, it strives to heal the sick, feed the hungry, and support those in need, following the words of the Prophet: إِنَّ أَمَنَّ النَّاسِ عَلَيَّ فِي مَالِهِ وَصُحْبَتِهِ أَبُو بَكْرٍ The most beloved of people to Allah are those who are most beneficial to others. [Bukhari and Muslim] Inspired by this principle, the campaign UAE stands with you, Lebanon was launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the President of the UAE, may Allah preserve him, to provide humanitarian support to the Lebanese people and offer them relief supplies to ease their suffering. Therefore, rush, O loyal benefactors, to contribute, for aiding people in times of distress is a path to elevated status, a means of warding off calamities, and one of the greatest forms of deliverance mentioned by Allah: “Or feeding on a day of severe hunger.” (Surah Al-Balad: 14) O Allah, bless and send peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his companions. O Allah, be pleased with Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali, and all the honourable companions. O Allah, make us believers in You, worshippers of You, and devoted to You. Make us dutiful to our parents, have mercy on them as they raised us when we were young, O Most Merciful of the merciful. Grant us loyalty as our characteristic, gratitude as our virtue, and sincerity always to the UAE, faithful to its President and its rulers. Safeguard our responsibilities and our covenants. O Allah, bless our country with stability, grant us good health, increase our provision, and bless our families and offspring. O Allah, guide the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, his deputies, his brothers the rulers of the Emirates, and his trustworthy Crown Prince to what pleases You. O Allah, have mercy on Sheikh Zayed, Sheikh Rashid, and the founding leaders. Admit them into Your vast gardens by Your grace, and grant mercy and forgiveness to our nation's martyrs. O Allah, have mercy on the Muslims, both men and women, the believers, both living and deceased. O Allah, send down rain upon us and do not make us despair. O Allah, relieve us, relieve us, relieve us. (Our Lord, give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the punishment of the fire.) (Surah Al-Baqarah: 201) Servants of Allah, remember Allah, the Most Great, and He will remember you. Be grateful to Him, and He will increase you in blessings. Establish the prayer.