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Bismillāh ar-Raḥmān ar-Raḥīm. Al-ḥamdu lillāhi Rabbil-‘alāmīn. As-salātu wa-s-salāmu ‘ala ash-sharafi al-anbiyā’ wal-mursalīn Muḥammad wa-rasūlullāhi, wa ‘ala ālihi wa sahbihi wa sallam. Tasliman kathīran kathīra. Wa ma ba’du.
My brothers and sisters, we were talking about the importance of *dhikr*. And Allāh subḥānahu wa ta’ālā said: وَذَكِّرْ إِنَّ الذِّكْرَ فَوَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (*wa dhakkir inna adh-dhikra fawqa al-mu’minīn*). Allāh said, “Make *dhikr*, remember; remembering is beneficial for the believers.”
And as I mentioned, when we ask, what do we remember? First and foremost, we remember the purpose of our existence. Why are we alive? Why do we exist? Why did Allāh subḥānahu wa ta’ālā create us?
And this is not a guess; Allāh subḥānahu wa ta’ālā himself told us why He created us. He said: وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ (*wa mā khalaqtul-jinna wal-insa illa liya’budūn*). I have not created the jinn and humanity except to worship Me. So, Allāh subḥānahu wa ta’ālā mentioned that He created us only for His worship, and therefore, that is what we need to focus on.
Somebody asked Ḥasan al-Basir, radhiAllāhu ‘anhu, saying, “Why or how is it that you are always so peaceful and calm, and you don’t seem worried about anything?” What’s the secret? Ḥasan al-Basir, radhiAllāhu ‘anhu, answered with four things.
Firstly, he said, “I know why Allāh subḥānahu wa ta’ālā created me.” And he added, “I know that nobody else can do those deeds for me. What Allāh created me for, only I have to do. Nobody else can do it for me.” So, he focuses on that, which is the *ibādah* of Allāh subḥānahu wa ta’ālā. Nobody else can marry him. Nobody else can fast for him. Nobody else can pray (*ṣalāh*) for him. Nobody else can pay his *zakāt*. While he is alive, nobody else can fulfill these obligations for him. Therefore, Ḥasan al-Basir, radhiAllāhu ‘anhu, said, “I know why Allāh created me, and I focus on fulfilling the purpose of my creation.”
The second thing he said is, “I know that what has been written for me, nobody can take; and what has not been written for me, nobody can give me.” As Rasūlullāh (ﷺ) said in a famous ḥadīth: “The pens have been lifted, and the pages are dry.” What Allāh has written for us is fixed—our destiny. We have to live it. Nobody else can live our destiny for us, nor can we live your destiny for you. So, he said, “I know that what has been written for me, I cannot lose it. So, I don’t worry about that. I do what I have to do.” He does not mean he doesn’t work; he works diligently but does not exhaust himself or get stressed out by work. He does not suffer nervous breakdowns because of work.
Allāh has written His decree (*qadar*), *al-ḥamdulillāh*.
The third thing is, “I know that Allāh subḥānahu wa ta’ālā is watching me.” *Samī’ al-basir* (Allāh hears), *’Alīm bi dhāti s-sudūr* (He knows what is within chests). So, one feels ashamed to do anything which is disobedience to Allāh subḥānahu wa ta’ālā. How can one disobey Allāh when knowing He is watching? Therefore, one stays away from all sins and ensures they do nothing Allāh dislikes.
And the fourth thing: “I know that one day I will meet Allāh subḥānahu wa ta’ālā.” And this day will come. Therefore, one tries to prepare for that Day. These are four things. The result is that Allāh grants *Sakīnah*, *Qanā’ah*, complete peace, and harmony in life. No problems arise.
So, we remind ourselves. As I said yesterday regarding the collective purpose:
1. We remind ourselves of our individual purpose.
2. We remind ourselves of our collective purpose, which is *Amr bil-Ma’rūf wa Nahy anil-Munkar*.
The way of *Amr bil-Ma’rūf* is to guide by demonstration, not merely by talking. It is not just giving khutbahs, lectures, or bayans. One cannot tell others that interest (*ribā*) is forbidden while dealing in it oneself. One cannot say smoking cigarettes is forbidden while smoking them. One cannot claim cheating people is forbidden while doing so. One cannot declare following the Sunnah is obligatory (*farḍ*) while leaving the Sunnah oneself. This makes no sense. So, one must demonstrate. When one acts, they become the most powerful form of da’wah through their own deeds (*amal*).
Then you don’t have to tell anybody anything; people can see what you are doing. This is *Amr bil-Ma’rūf* and *Nahy anil-Munkar* as far as the public is concerned.
As mentioned, this is the collective purpose. Like setting a destination on your GPS: if you deviate, it calls you back. That is the purpose of *dhikr*: to call you back to the Straight Path, leading to the destination which, *inshāAllāh*, we ask Allāh for Jannat al-Firdaws.
Now, in this collective context, regarding responsibility, Allāh gave us a global mandate. He said “Be *Amr bil-Ma’rūf wa Nahy anil-Munkar*.” Since you have faith in Allāh, He gave us a global mandate. Allāh gave us this global mandate because the Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ) came with a global mandate. Allāh did not give other Prophets limited responsibilities only for their specific peoples. Nuh was sent to his people; Musa was sent to Bani Israel; ‘Isa was sent to reinforce Musa’s message for the same Bani Israel.
On the other hand, for Rasūlullāh, Allāh said, “We have not sent you except as mercy (*Rahmat*) for all worlds.” Not just for one group, but for all that Allāh has created. The Nabi was told to say, “I have been sent with this way; I call towards Allāh with evidence.” So, the work of guidance was given to the Rasūl with a global mandate for the whole world. Thanks to him, we have inherited that work because he is Khatam al-Nabiyyīn (the Seal of the Prophets). After him, there is no other Rasūl or Nabi. The sequence of Anbiya’ ended, but the work of *Hidayah*—inviting towards Allāh, establishing good, and prohibiting evil—will continue until the end of time. This work has been given to the Ummat of Muḥammad.
*Al-ḥamdulillāh*, Allāh has given us the honor and privilege of being part of the Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah of Rasūlullāh. Therefore, this is a job given to us: our collective purpose for existence. Allāh gave us a global mandate.
The reason I repeat this again and again is that when Allāh gives a responsibility, He provides everything needed to fulfill it. It is logical: if you give your driver a car and say, “Go from here to there,” you ensure there is enough gas. If they need more, you provide money. You won’t tell them to go and come back repeatedly without fuel; if they run out, you pay for it. Nobody will say, “He isn’t doing his job.” You have deputized him, so you are supposed to take care of him.
So, *al-ḥamdulillāh*, Allāh is above all examples. When Allāh gives a responsibility, He gives the power, authority, influence, and resources to fulfill it.
Now, our problem is what we have done. Allāh gave us a global mandate. The Nabi was sent, the Kitāb (Quran) was revealed—Islam is a global religion. Allāh is Rabb al-‘Alāmīn, not just Rabb al-Muslimīn. The Kitāb of Allāh is guidance (*Hidayah*) for all humanity. The Nabi is *Rahmatul ‘Alamīn* (Mercy to all worlds); it is a global thing, not restricted. What did we do? We took the global mandate but restricted it. We limited it. We chopped it up for our own little peace. And we sit on that dung heap, crowing, thinking we are kings. True, we are the king of that dung heap—that’s all. Nothing else. Consequently, we lack authority. Just think about this: which Muslim organization at any level, whether a movement like Tablighi Jamaat or Jama’at-e-Islami, has anyone in the world consulting them on matters concerning the globe?
Does anyone care one hoot about what they think? Take the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC). Do they care about their opinions regarding world events? Is there any country asking the opinion of Muslims at any level before deciding on an action? Who tells Meta, “We are going to release this software; give us your opinion”? Who asks Hollywood or Bollywood, “Do you think screening this movie affects us?”
Who asks the opinion of any Muslim body—whether ulama or non-ulama? We are supposed to be 1.5 billion or 1.2 billion (*inshāAllāh*), yet nobody gives a damn.
As we speak today, we are supposedly concerned with Gaza, where every single day Palestinians—men, women, and children—are being killed. There is no reason for it; they have not committed crimes. They are the poorest of the poor, deprived, hungry, thirsty, and sick. They have been in that war zone for two and a half years. Still, every single day they are killed. Who cares? Is anybody bothered?
This is something we must really think about in America: if someone kills a cat, they go to jail. Why has that happened? Because we chose to reduce our influence. It is our choice. Allāh gave us global influence, but we let it go. Our history shows the same people—the same Muslims—who counted for something when their population was far fewer than today. Allāh had given them influence, power, and authority, and they did all kinds of goodness. Even till today, our so-called enemies acknowledge this. But that was 500 or 700 years ago. Who cares now? Our influence disappeared because we chose to let it go.
The good news is we can get it back if we want, because Allāh has not changed anything. If Allāh subḥānahu wa ta’ālā had changed His decree, we could say, “What can I do now?” But He hasn’t. The *āyāt* are still valid, alive, and well.
So, we still have a global mandate which we have chosen to ignore. Therefore, we are being kicked around like a football. But if we choose to take back that global mandate, Allāh subḥānahu wa ta’ālā will help us as He helped the Sahaba of Rasūlullāh (ﷺ).
Rasūlullāh (ﷺ) said: “The dua of the people of my Ummah will be accepted like the dua of the Anbiya of Bani Israel.” Why would that happen? Because they were doing that work.
So, I remind myself, and you, let us make *istighfār*, let us make *tawbah*. Let us turn towards Allāh subḥānahu wa ta’ālā. Let us change our mindset and say, “I am responsible for the whole world.” Start with your own home, then expand, trying to do good for everybody. That is the whole meaning of *Amr bil-Ma’rūf wa Nahy anil-Munkar*: to do good, promote it, stop evil—for who? For the whole world. Think about the benefit of every human being on the face of the earth without exception. Think about how we can benefit the people of this world without qualification or exception. Everyone! Let us think, reorient ourselves, and ask: How can I benefit everyone on the face of the earth? We ask Allāh subḥānahu wa ta’ālā to use us, help us become beneficial for the whole world, and all its people.
We ask Allāh subḥānahu wa ta’ālā to give us the influence, power, and authority, and to protect us from whoever is our enemy at this time. The offer of Allāh subḥānahu wa ta’ālā comes conditional upon doing the work of da’wah and tabligh. Allāh subḥānahu wa ta’ālā said to the Prophet (ﷺ): “Baligh ma unzila ilayk” (*baligh mā unzila ‘alayka*)—Go and communicate what has been sent down to you. Then Allāh subḥānahu wa ta’ālā said: “Wallāhu ya’minuka min an-nās” (*wa Allāhu yu’minukum min al-anās*). Now, when you do this, Allāh will protect you from the people—meaning whoever are your enemies. So we ask Allāh subḥānahu wa ta’ālā for His protection. We ask Him to help us recognize our mandate and be able to fulfill it to His pleasure. Wa sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam ‘ala nabiyyil kareem wa ‘ala ālihi wa sahbihi ajma’in bi raḥmatika rahmatullāh.