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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
From Abadu, I am at this farm and stable with their horses in Rooshni. These are beautiful horses, although the condition does not look to be the greatest. But let us see what they have to say.
In the name of Allah, the Qudrah of Allah is visible in many ways, in many places. For anyone who wishes to look at it, we ask Allah to open for us the doors of His Qudrah and His Rahmah so that we can marvel at His creation.
Allah has described horses in Surah Al-Adiyat: Wal-Adiyati Dhabha, Fal-Muriyati Qadha. Think about this: these are horses. Allah gave them to us and showed them to us as examples of loyalty, courage, and going out in battle. The horse runs and gallops in the early morning; its hooves strike fire from the earth and it goes through the dust—doing all of this to please its master.
Yet that master is not its creator, sustainer, or provider. Still, because that animal is under the care of that human being, the animal is willing to do whatever it is commanded. No questions, no arguments, no logic—it does what it is told, to the utmost of its ability. It does not hesitate. It does not do a half-hearted job. It gives everything, even if that sometimes means losing its life in the process.
There have been horses in races that run with such incredible effort that their hearts burst and they die while still running. Allah has given us these examples. Then Allah asks: this is what an animal does for the one it sees as its benefactor—what about you, O human being?
You have been shown Allah as the One of Mercy, the One who created you, sustained you, guided you, provided for you, and protected you. In every single instance of your life, you owe Allah in multiple ways—not just one way, in many ways. Yet when it comes to obeying Allah and worshipping Allah, you have problems. You do not do it, and you make excuses.
Allah created us for His worship. Allah said:
Wa ma khalaqtu al-jinna wal-insa illa liyabudun.
We did not create jinn and human beings for anything except worship.
The worship of Allah begins and ends with obedience to Him. Obedience to Allah is worship.
Rasulullah ﷺ met Adi bin Hatim, the son of Hatim al-Tai, the famous generous man in Arab history. Adi came wearing a cross, because at that time he was not yet Muslim. Rasulullah ﷺ recited the ayah where Allah says people took their rabbis and priests as gods besides Allah.
Adi said, “Ya Rasulullah, we do not worship our rabbis or priests.” Rasulullah ﷺ asked, “Is it not true that Allah prohibited some things, but your rabbis and priests permitted them, and you followed them?”
For example, Allah prohibited pork, yet Christians eat pork because someone said it was permitted. Allah asks: who is your Lord—Allah or a human being? Who is this person to permit and prohibit?
Then Rasulullah ﷺ asked: “Is it not true that Allah permitted some things, but your priests prohibited them, and you followed them?”
For example, in Catholicism priests and nuns do not marry, while Allah permitted marriage. Allah prohibited zina (fornication and adultery), yet in modern society living relationships have become normal. Even when priests speak, many do not address this openly. Not because it is permitted in religion—it is not—but because they remain silent.
Rasulullah ﷺ said this obedience to others against Allah is worship of those others. To obey is worship. To obey someone in opposition to Allah is worship of that person, idea, or desire instead of Allah.
Allah says: Have you seen the one who has taken his own desires as his god?
No one literally makes sujood to a bottle of whiskey. But when we choose to obey our desires in opposition to obeying Allah, that is a sign of worshipping desires instead of worshipping Allah.
We ask Allah to make us among those who worship Him alone, because no one is worthy of worship except Allah:
La ilaha illa Allah, wahdahu la sharika lah,
lahul-mulk wa lahul-hamd,
yuhyi wa yumit, wa huwa hayyun la yamut,
bi yadihil-khayr,
wa huwa ala kulli shayin qadir.
Wa sallallahu ala nabiyyina al-karim,
wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain,
bi rahmatika ya Arham ar-Rahimin,
wal-hamdulillahi Rabbil-alamin.