Friday Sermon: Understanding the Qur’an

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Friday Sermon: Understanding the Qur’an

Lastprophet.info provides its readers with a weekly Friday sermon (khutbah), which may act as a supplemental guide for imams, hospital and prison chaiplains, Muslim organizations and societies (i.e. MSA), students and the general reader. All of our sermons have been prepared by imams, Islamic scholars and theologians in the Republic of Turkey. Please contact us if you would like to contribute or request a topic for a forthcoming sermon.

إِنَّهَـذَاالْقُرْآنَيِهْدِيلِلَّتِيهِيَأَقْوَمُوَيُبَشِّرُ

الْمُؤْمِنِينَالَّذِينَيَعْمَلُونَالصَّالِحَاتِأَنَّلَهُمْأَجْراًكَبِيراً

Esteemed Muslims!

Almighty Allah has never left mankind alone, from the time of the Prophet Adam (p.b.u.h.) until the present, providing support with many prophets and books. The last of this chain of prophets is the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.). And the last of these books is the book which was revealed to him: the Holy Qur’an.

We have certain duties with regard to our exalted book, which was sent as a book of guidance to humanity. The first of these duties is learning how to read this book. And after this, understanding this book and implementing it in our daily lives are duties that have been set for us.

Esteemed Muslims!

Our exalted book is universal, as it was not sent to a single nation or tribe. It is a guide which addresses and concerns everyone, maintaining order in their lives whether they are the most primitive of people or the greatest of scientists; of those immersed in religion or of those who are distant from it; whether they are the poorest or the richest of people. It has brought down the laws necessary for both worldly happiness and happiness in the hereafter, for individuals and societies alike.

The Qur’an is a book that speaks not of faith and worship alone, but addresses science, civilian life, morality and virtue, righteousness and freedom, compassion and mercy, social assistance and the loftiest of humanitarian feelings. It forms a strong conscience in people and a complete faith inherent in that conscience.

My precious brothers and sisters!

Our exalted book, which served to illuminate the darkness of the era of Jahiliyya, has made a distinction between right and wrong, ascribing value to the human being. Muslims who follow it have developed through its principles, establishing civilizations and leading the way in every realm.

The Holy Qur’an has for centuries been blessed by a great deal of respect from our ancestors, inspiring the ignition of a torch borne by a civilization that met with victory upon victory. In the foundation of this civilization, which reigned over three continents, rests this very respect for the Qur’an. This respect includes that of those who refuse to stretch out their legs because there is a Qur’an in the room, viewing this as an irreverence and refusing to sleep in that position.

Beloved Believers!

As the inheritors of a grand civilization, we too should see the Holy Qur’an as an inextricablepart of our lives. We should not see it as a book that we take down to read once a week or once a month for those who have passed away, placing it back on its shelf to collect dust when are done with it.

We must heed the advice of the Messenger of Allah when he said, “Hold on tightly to the Holy Qur’an. See it as a leader and guide. For it is the word of Allah, the Lord of the worlds.”[1]

We must raise the new generations as people who understand the Qur’an and transfer what they learn to their daily lives. I pray that Allah does not separate our nation from the way of the Qur’an, and conclude my khutbah with the following two verses from the Holy Qur’an:

“Verily, this Qur'an doth guide to that which is most right (or stable), and giveth the Glad Tidings to the Believers who work deeds of righteousness, that they shall have a magnificent reward”[2];

“…and We have sent down to thee the Book explaining all things, a Guide, a Mercy, and Glad Tidings to Muslims.”[3]