The Homeland of Coexistence

The First Khutba All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. I bear witness that there is nothing worthy of worship except Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. I also bear witness that our Master and Prophet Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, the Seal of the Prophets. O Allah send Your peace and blessings be upon him, his family, his companions, and all those who follow them in the best of ways till the Last Day. To continue: I advise you, servants of Allah, and myself to have Taqwa of Allah: O mankind, have taqwa of your Lord, who created you from a single soul (Qur'an 4:1). O Believers: Allah says: O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another (Qur'an 49:13). Indeed, the acquaintance and coexistence of people is a religious obligation, a moral objective, and a societal necessity. Through it, a person preserves the trust of the homeland, maintains its security and stability, and repeatedly says openly and secretly: My Lord, make this a secure city (Qur'an 2:126). The trust of our homelands is a most precious possession a person has. For this reason, the continuity of its safety and stability is a duty on every individual, whether a citizen or a resident, who respects its constitution, laws, customs, and adheres to its noble ethics and proper behaviour, taking into account its traditions and particularities. The example of such a believer is one who benefits others as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) indicated when he said: The example of a believer is like that of a bee: it eats what is good, produces what is good, and when it lands on something, it does not break or ruin it (Musnad Ahmad). Hence, such a believer places the interest of the homeland as one of his main considerations as Sheikh Zayed, may Allah bless his soul, said. This could be said to also be part of our righteousness in religion and worldly affairs, which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) prayed for, saying: O Allah, rectify for me my religion which is the safeguard of my affairs, and rectify for me my worldly affairs wherein is my living (Sahih Muslim). A trustworthy believer is one who elevates the name of his homeland, ensures its good reputation, and it as if his heart says: “O homeland of coexistence, may you remain lofty and proud under the wisdom of righteous leaders and guidance. O homeland of coexistence, may you continue to be a source of goodness for mankind and a hand extended in generous giving. O Lord, preserve and care for our home that has become a place of love and brotherhood for all.” His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed (may Allah protect him) said: We are all responsible for creating a good reputation for this country because each one of you is a shepherd of the reputation of this nation. This is part of fulfilling our covenants to Allah, wherein Allah praised its people by saying: They are those who have been true [to their covenant with Allah], and they are the righteous (Qur'an 2:177) From such fulfilment is as Allah says: O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you (Qur'an 4:59). I say this, and I seek forgiveness from Allah for myself and for you, so seek His forgiveness, for He is the most forgiving, most merciful. The Second Khutba All praise is due to Allah alone, and peace and blessings be upon the Prophet after whom there is no other Prophet. O Worshippers: when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sent some of his companions to Abyssinia, they made it their homeland. They were the best ambassadors for their nation and the best examples for others in their diligence, hard work, tolerance, and coexistence. Therefore, everyone who lives in a homeland that has embraced them with love and treated them with honour should strive to follow their path and emulate their example. They should not incite discord, cause chaos, or promote hatred or sectarianism, for such actions are a betrayal of the trust of the homeland. Allah says: O you who have believed, do not betray Allah and the Messenger or betray your trusts while you know [the consequence] (Qur'an 8:27). One must know that the leadership of the UAE, its citizens, and residents on its soil love its land, take pride in belonging to it, protect its boundaries, and defend every inch of it. Its institutions, laws, and regulations are vigilant against every traitor or saboteur, criminalizing their actions and punishing them for their misconduct. We pray that Allah always makes us means of peace and coexistence and not means of strife. O Allah, send Your mercy peace, and blessings upon our master and Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and companions. O Allah, make us loving and united, standing behind our leadership, keen on the safety of our homeland. O Allah, maintain security, stability, progress, and prosperity upon the UAE, and grant more success, guidance, and tranquility to our country, our neighbors, and all countries, and spread mercy and peace across the world. O Allah, guide the President of the Nation, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, his deputies, his brothers the rulers of the Emirates, and his trustworthy Crown Prince to what You love and are pleased with. O Allah, have mercy on Sheikh Zayed, Sheikh Rashid, and the founding leaders who established the union, built its edifice, and solidified its pillars. Include Sheikh Maktoum and Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed in Your mercy and admit them by Your grace into Your spacious gardens. Bestow Your mercy and forgiveness upon the martyrs of the homeland. O Allah, have mercy on the Muslim men and women, the believing men and women, the living and the dead. Servants of Allah, remember Allah, and He will remember you. Be grateful to Him for His blessings, and He will increase you therein. Establish the prayer.