Dear brothers and sisters;

The truth of the matter is that Islam is not the religion in which the person can pick and choose what agrees with his desires, but it is the only religion that Allah accepts for people and accepts nothing else. Allah says: (the religion before Allah is Islam)

This is a fact that should always be clear in our minds.

The other important fact that we should understand well is that Islam is a unique way of life that came to build a new humanity based on divine rules instead of artificial earthly rulers.

From these 2 facts, we can understand the Quranic description of Muslim ummah (you are the best people evolved for mankind)

By this feeling of pride and honor, and by this feeling that the leadership of this world is the responsibility of Muslims, many generations of Muslims were capable of dominating the world and to guide it by the favour of Allah to ways of happiness and goodness, and to spread justice and freedom all over the earth. So, all the world enjoyed for centuries the leadership of the Muslims and the rulings of the Quran.

However, the wisdom of Allah dictated that whoever does not follow the means will never accomplish the results.

This is the way of Allah (No change you will find in Allah's ways)

Then, comes in history, one of the sadest periods, when the Muslims gave away the leadership of the world to other nations and throw away their responsibilities. So, others grabbed the opportunity and the leadership was distributed to all other nations.

Consequently, not only the Muslims suffered, but the entire world did. Actually, the world does not lose anything by termination of any nation that enslaves people and oppress them.

But, the matter is totally different with the fall of the Islamic leadership of the world.

This fall was an indication of pushing away the divine rules and replacing them with misguided earthly rules.

This was an indication that oppression finally found its chance and justice had been buried under the ground.

So, the responsibility of protecting the sheep was given to the wolves.

We never heard of any wolf that did this job in a right way.

Then the Muslims and the entire world felt the big tragedy, but it was too late.

The Muslims woke up to find themselves followers rather than leaders, and defeated rather than victorious.

As the Quran described the status of reproaches: (then they began to blame one other)

Who is responsible for this catastrophe?

Is it the responsibility of the Muslim leaders who left out the rulings of Allah?

Is it the responsibility of the scholars who quit advising the Muslims and made special rulings which agree with leaders?

Or, is it the responsibility of the enemies of Islam who planned and gathered to put off the light of Islam?

Many excuses

However, the wise can realize that the issue is not simple.

Yes, all of these distributed to the fall of the Islamic leadership of the world, however you can not put the whole burden on their shoulders.

And by a simple analysis, you can realize truly who the major responsible for this bad situation is.

No wonder, sometimes, the foolish kills himself.

The responsibility of losing the leadership of the world is actually fallen on all Muslims all over the world.

Both in Islamic countries and non-Islamic countries, both leaders and followers, both scholars and students.

More clearly, the responsibility falls directly on me and you, every one of you.

All of us contribute to various degrees to the fall of the Islamic leadership of the world.

I apologize for this clarity and for this harshness.

But you can not treat  a serious disease by just giving pain medications.

You should know the real cause of the disease to be able to treat it.

So, what is way of reestablishing our Islamic leadership. I know it is so difficult to return the Ummah to the forefront in just one Khutbah, but I will try to merely put the broad lines of how to change our situation from the weakness to the powerfulness again.

In the following words, I will try to be as practical as possible, so the characteristic signs of this road are six facts, all together, you can not omit something from these facts.

I hope that you all concentrate well.

We have the chance to reestablish the great moment of Islam.

We have the chance to free ourselves from the disgrace to glory , so please listen carefully.

The first important fact :

That we should understand clearly that each individual has a role to play

We should be positive in charging the situation of Muslims.

Moreover, we should be even ready to do the job of others if the situation necessitates and seeking the rewards from Allah.

In one of the famous Islamic battles, called the battle of Tustur, Au-Musa Al-Ashari, the leader of the Muslim army, and one of the prophet's companions, asked for the advice of another companion called Majzaa ibn Thawr to find someone to do a very dangerous mission, but Majzaa surprised the Au-Musa by saying: let me be this person.

Here only the advice of Majzaa was sought, however, Majzaa was very positive and volunteered himself for a potentially deadly task.

This is the positivity that we are looking for.

Do not wait for someone to assign you to a task to serve Islam, but be always ready to offer your efforts and sacrifice your time and your soul if needed.

And as Allah says: (every soul will be in pledge for its deeds)

If you declined from the support of Islam, you are punished by Allah even if Islam succeeded.

On the other hand, when you support Islam, you will be rewarded even if victory did not come in your lifetime.

So, this is the first important fact, try to be positive

The second important fact is that you should understand well the different Islamic situation at this time in the world. If you sleep at home safe, warm and satisfied, this does not mean that the Islamic Ummah is in well-being.

Actually the Islamic situation is very serious.

Wherever you put your finger on the map, you find Muslims with their bloods shed, in Palestine, Bosnia and other places.

Do not think that the situation is secure in any country, no matter what this country is.

Be sure that if the power of the Muslims appears in any place, the same thing as in the aforementioned countries will occur.

So, without understanding this difficult situation, you will not find the needed energy to save your brothers, the prophet says: (he who does not care about what is happening to the Muslims is not of them).

So the second important fact is

You should understand carefully the seriousness of the Islamic situation today.

The third important fact is that you should be proud of your Islam.

This great religion.

Why Muslims always feel shy they are Muslims?

Why they try to hide their identity as much as they can.

They hide their praying, fasting, celebrations, and even hesitate to help other Muslims everywhere.

In fact the most dangerous thing faces the Muslim Ummah today is their moral defeat, so we believe that whatever the west says, it will be true, and whatever we found in Islam is an old tradition.

Look to the saying of Allah describing the hypocrites: (to the hypocrites give the glad tidings that there for them grievous punishment)

Who are the hypocrites?

Those who take the unbelievers supporters and protectors rather than the believers.

Are they seeking honor among them? However the honor is with Allah.

E sure that you carry the most perfect message.

You should never hide your Islam.

You should introduce your Islam to all people with this feeling.

You should know that you are the superior even if there was a temporarily defeat of the Muslims. Allah talked to the Muslims after the defeat in Uhud  (so do not lose heart , nor fall into despair, for you must gain mastery or superiority if you are true in faith.)

Muslims are superior as their source of life is Allah and because they follow the prophet Muhammad, and because they own complete way of life that deals with spirits and persons.

Muslims are superior because they carry special manners that the history never knew like them before.

Muslims are superior because they want guidance for the world, while the others want misguidance.

So, the third important fact is that

You should be proud of your Islam when you introduce it to the other.

The fourth important fact:

 It is not logic for you to e proud of something you do not own or know its value. In other words, how do you pretend that you are proud of Islam while you do not follow its teachings and do not know its commandments and prohibitions?

You will immediately lose your credibility when you seem calling for something that you are not following. Even more seriously, you will lose the help of Allah as Allah says: (if you help Allah, Allah will help you)

So, Allah's help is conditional on your help to Allah by following His commands and avoiding His prohibitions.

Dear Muslims:

Always seek to return quickly to Islam, the religion of Allah

-          Get to know about the sources of strength in our religion

-          Get to know how to defend your religion against the false accusations of its enemies

-          Try to teach your family and your friends the islam

-          Try to taste the sweetness of being a true servant to Allah

So, the fourth important fact is that

You should know your religion accurately to be able to spread it and to be eligible to victory of Allah.

The fifth important fact:

It should be expected by all of you to practice, this is what you know;

What is the benefit of knowledge without practice?

What is the benefit of knowing that prayer is obligatory upon you while you do not perform prayer? What is the benefit of knowing that veil is obligatory upon adult women while you so not oblige your wife and daughter to wear it?

What is the benefit of knowing the importance of seeking knowledge while you are weak in your field?

Yes, brothers:

All the Quranic verses indicate that Iman is connected with the good deeds.

So, your neglecting the prayers or omitting any of the Islamic rules may delay the victory of Allah.

So, the fifth important fact is that you should practice what you learnt and to try to be perfect in your practice.

The sixth and the last factor is that the Muslims should unite together and love should be spread among them whatever their countries, races, characters are, Allah says: (the believers are brothers)

So, you should know that division among people is the most serious diseases that leads to destruction of nations, Allah warns us against division (do not fall into dispute, otherwise you will lose heart and your power weaken)

So, this is a main cause for failure and the loss of respect.

Whatever the knowledge or piety of any one is, he will never be able to build the Ummah alone.

So, the sixth important fact is that all efforts should unite to give the support for Islam.

To summarize:

Muslims currently are living in a very hard and  bitter condition, and changing for better is the responsibility of every individual of the Ummah , not just the responsibility of leaders and scholars.

Try to be positive, and volunteer your services for Islam even before you are requested to do so.

Be proud of this great religion which Allah has honored you with. It is the greatest of Allah's favors that He should be thanked.

You should learn your religion very well, and spread your call among people and be a Muslim in every aspect of your life.

At least, you should unite your efforts with your brothers. Seek agreement and be away from dispute and division.

Let us help each other in things we agree on, and to excuse one another in things we disagree on.

Dear believers, do not despair, for today or tomorrow, Allah will accomplish His promise to you (Allah has promised those who have believed among you and have done the righteous deeds that He will make them successors in land as He made their ancestors….)

The second part of the khutba

I apologize for the long time I spent in the first part of the khutba, but I feel it is a very important to know these things especially for Muslims in New Orleans, however, today is feast, and you should enjoy as much as you can with your family and friends within the Islamic rules.

Try to visit as much as you can your friends and brothers. Try to make your children happy and to feel that the day is different from all other days, this is because it is the feast of Fitr.

Dear brothers and sisters;

Pardon me for taking this long time and make duaa for me and you from Allah to accept our fasting, prayers, charity, and to make us among the people of paradise and to guard us from the hellfire. Amen.

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