Praise is due to Allah. May peace and blessings be upon Allah's Messenger, his Household, and Companions.
There is no doubt that every nation must have people who are able to show it the way and guide it to the right path. Our nation is the best nation and is favored with enjoining what is good, forbidding what is evil and calling to all that is good, taking Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as the best example.
However, these things (i.e. enjoining what is good, forbidding what is evil and calling to good matters) are indeed among the means of happiness and salvation in the worldly life and in the Hereafter. Accordingly, every Muslim should exert effort to advise, guide, enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil so as to free himself from responsibility and be an example for others. Allah (Exalted be He) says, And remind (by preaching the Qur'ân, O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ), for verily, the reminding profits the believers.
Every believer, indeed, every human is in dire need to be reminded with the right of Allah (Exalted be He) and the right of Allah's Slaves on Him. Each person should be urged to fulfill these rights. Muslims must remind one another to adhere to the truth and to show patience in that. From a relative standpoint, Allah (Exalted be He) demonstrates in His Clear Book the characteristics of the winners and their noble deeds and the characteristics of the losers and their dispraised practices. The most comprehensive text from the Qur'an in this regard isSurah (Qur'anic chapter) of Al`Asr: By Al'Asr (the time).
Except those who believe (in Islâmic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth [i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds (AlMa'ruf) which Allâh has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (AlMunkar which Allâh has forbidden], and recommend one another to patience (for the sufferings, harms, and injuries which one may encounter in Allâh's Cause during preaching His religion of Islâmic Monotheism or Jihâd).
This short Noble Surah clarifies that there are four means of success:
First: Belief in Allah (Exalted be He) and His Messenger.
Third: Recommending one another to the truth.
Fourth: Recommending one another to patience.
Whoever fulfills these four principles gains the greatest reward and is entitled to receive honor and eternal happiness on the Day of Judgment whereas those who abandon them return with the greatest loss and their abode will be Hell, the place of disgrace. Allah (Glorified be He) explains, diversifies, and repeats the characteristics of the winners in His Noble Book so that a person who seeks salvation in this life and the Hereafter knows, acquires and calls others to these honorable characteristics. In addition, He (Exalted be He) elaborated on the characteristics of the losers so as to be manifest for a believer to know and, consequently, avoid. Those who contemplate and recite the Qur'an a lot recognize the characteristics of the winners and the losers in detail, for Allah (Exalted be He) shows them in many Ayahs including the former Ayahs and also Ayah 9 of Surah AlIsra': Verily, this Qur'ân guides to that which is most just and right and gives glad tidings to the believers (in the Oneness of Allâh and His Messenger, Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭ ﺳﻠﻢ), who work deeds of righteousness, that they shall have a great reward (Paradise).
Allah (Glorified be He) also says: (This is) a Book (the Qur'ân) which We have sent down to you, full of blessings, that they may ponder over its Verses, and that men of understanding may remember. Allah (Glorified be He) also says: And this is a blessed Book (the Qur'ân) which We have sent down, so follow it and fear Allâh (i.e. do not disobey His Orders), that you may receive mercy (i.e. be saved from the torment of Hell).
It Is authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it. The Prophet
(may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him) openly declares in the Farewell Sermon on the Day of `Arafah, I am leaving you something that if you adhere to it, you will never go astray; the Book of Allah. Allah (Exalted be He) points out in these Ayahs that He reveals the Qur'an for people to reflect on it, remind themselves of and follow it, and to seek its guidance regarding the ways that lead to happiness, honor, and salvation in this life and in the Hereafter. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him) recommended people to learn and teach it, explaining that the best amongst people are the People of the Qur'an who learn, teach, and consequently act upon and follow it, observing its limits, ruling by and calling to applying its rulings.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) pointed out to people in this great gathering on the Day of `Arafah that they would not go astray if they hold firmly to and follow the teachings of the Book of Allah. The Salaf (righteous predecessors) and the first generations of this nation adhered to the teachings of the Qura'n and made use of the biography of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and therefore, Allah (Exalted be He) honored them, raised their degree and established them on the earth. He (may He be Praised) accomplished for them what He (Glorified be He) promised them, for His Promise never fails. Allah (Exalted be He) says, Allâh has promised those among you who believe and do righteous good deeds, that He will certainly grant them succession to (the present rulers) in the land, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to practise their religion which He has chosen for them (i.e. Islâm). And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they (believers) worship Me and do not associate anything (in worship) with Me.
Allah (Exalted be He) also says: O you who believe! If you help (in the cause of) Allâh, He will help you, and make your foothold firm. Allah (Exalted be He) also says: Verily, Allâh will help those who help His (Cause). Truly, Allâh is AllStrong, AllMighty.
Those (Muslim rulers) who, if We give them power in the land, (they) enjoin IqamatasSalât [i.e. to perform the five compulsory congregational Salât (prayers) (the males in mosques)], to pay the Zakât and they enjoin AlMa'rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do), and forbid AlMunkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism and all that Islâm has forbidden) [i.e. they make the Qur'ân as the law of their country in all the spheres of life]. And with Allâh rests the end of (all) matters (of creatures).
O, Muslims! Ponder on the Book of your Lord,
recite it a lot, comply with its commands, avoid its prohibitions, identify and acquire the manners and acts which the Qur'an praised, know the manners and actions that the Qur'an dispraised and warned their perpetrators about and avoid them, recommend one another to do all this and be patient till you meet your Lord. In this way, you will deserve the honor and attain salvation and happiness in this life and in the Hereafter.
Indeed, among the most important duties Muslims must do is to attend to, follow, comprehend, and make use of the Prophet's Sunnah, for it is the second form of revelation and an explanation of the Qur'an. The Sunnah illustrates what may be unclear in the Qur'an. Allah (Exalted be He) says in His Noble Book, And We have also sent down unto you (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭ ﺳﻠﻢ) the Dhikr [reminder and the advice (i.e. the Qur'ân)], that you may explain clearly to men what is sent down to them, and that they may give thought. Allah (Exalted be He) also says: And We have sent down to you the Book (the Qur'an) as an exposition of everything, a guidance, a mercy, and glad tidings for those who have submitted themselves (to Allâh as Muslims). Allah (Exalted be He) also says: And We have not sent down the Book (the Qur'an) to you (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭ ﺳﻠﻢ), except that you may explain clearly unto them those things in which they differ, and (as) a guidance and a mercy for a folk who believe.
Allah (Exalted be He) also says: Indeed in the Messenger of Allâh (Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the Meeting with) Allâh and the Last Day, and remembers Allâh much. Allah (Exalted be He) also says: And let those who oppose the Messenger's (Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭ ﺳﻠﻢ) commandment (i.e. his Sunnah legal ways, orders, acts of worship, statements) (among the sects) beware, lest some Fitnah (disbelief, trials, afflictions, earthquakes, killing, overpowered by a tyrant) should befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them. There are many Ayahs that show the obligation of following the Prophet (peace be upon him), glorifying his Sunnah and adhering to it and warning against contradicting or neglecting it. They are known to whoever ponders on the Qur'an and understands the Prophet's (peace be upon him) authentic Hadiths.
Indeed, there will be no rightness, happiness, honor, dignity or Salvation in this life and in the Hereafter except by following the Glorious Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him), glorifying both of them, recommending them in all conditions and remaining steadfast with this. Allah (may He be Exalted and Glorified) says, O you who believe! Answer Allâh (by obeying Him) and (His) Messenger when he (ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) calls you to that which will give you life, and know that Allâh comes in between a person and his heart (i.e. He prevents an evil person to decide anything). And verily to Him you shall (all) be gathered. Allah (Exalted be He) also says: Whoever works righteousness whether male or female while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islâmic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter). Allah (Exalted be He) also says: But honour, power and glory belong to Allâh, and to His Messenger (Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ), and to the believers, but the hypocrites know not.
Allah (Exalted be He) informs His Slaves in these Noble Ayahs that the good life, ease, peace of mind and perfect honor are for those who answer the call of Allah and His Messenger and adhere to this by word and deed. However, those who turn away from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace be upon him) and occupy themselves with other things, will suffer from pain, misery, anxiety, grief, and a life of hardship even if they possess the entire world. The worst will be in the Hereafter when they go to a more severe torment, namely, the torture of Hellfire. We seek refuge with Allah from that. Allah (may He Exalted and glorified) says, And nothing prevents their contributions from being accepted from them except that they disbelieved in Allâh and in His Messenger (Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ), and that they came not to AsSalât (the prayer) except in a lazy state, and that they offer not contributions but unwillingly.
So let not their wealth nor their children amaze you (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳـﻠﻢ); in reality Allâh's Plan is to punish them with these things in the life of this world, and that their souls shall depart (die) while they are disbelievers.
Allah (Exalted be He) also says: Then if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoever follows My Guidance he shall
neither go astray, nor shall be distressed.
"But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Qur'ân nor acts on its teachings.) verily, for him is a life of hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection." Allah (Exalted be He) also says: And verily, We will make them taste of the near torment (i.e. the torment in the life of this world, i.e. disasters, calamities, etc.) prior to the supreme torment (in the Hereafter), in order that they may (repent and) return (i.e. accept Islâm). Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) also says: Verily, the Abrâr (the pious believers of Islamic Monotheism) will be in Delight (Paradise);
And verily, the Fujjâr (the wicked, disbelievers, polytheists, sinners and evildoers) will be in the blazing Fire (Hell),
Some scholars of Tafsir (the exegesis of the Qur'an) said that this Ayah includes the conditions of the righteous and the wrongdoers in this life and in the Hereafter. Believers live in happiness in this life, in the grave, and in the Hereafter even if they are affected in this life with all kinds of troubles, such as poverty and illness. Wrongdoers live in pain in this life, in the grave and the Hereafter even if they already live in limitless ease in this life. This is because real happiness and ease are those of the heart. Believers, who depend on Allah, are satisfied with Him, fulfill His Rights and are truthful to His Promise, have peace of mind, and feel delighted and satisfied. In contrast, wrongdoers with eviloriented hearts, ignorance, doubt, and negligence of the Rights of Allah and are occupied with the matters of life and its desires live in continuous pain, worry and hardship. Yet, following whims and inclinations makes the mind blind so that it does not think of this.
O, Muslims! Pay attention to what you have been created for, namely worshiping Allah (Exalted be He) and obeying Him, and comprehend and adhere to this until you meet your Lord (Exalted be He) to gain eternal happiness and remain safe from the torment of Hellfire.
Allah (Exalted be He) says, Verily, those who say: "Our Lord is Allâh (Alone)," and then they stand firm, on them the angels will descend (at the time of their death) (saying): "Fear not, nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised!
"We have been your friends in the life of this world and are (so) in the Hereafter. Therein you shall have (all) that your innerselves desire, and therein you shall have (all) for which you ask.
"An entertainment from (Allâh), the OftForgiving, Most Merciful."
Allah (Exalted be He) also says: Verily, those who say: "Our Lord is (only) Allâh," and thereafter stand firm and straight on the Islâmic Faith of Monotheism, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
Such shall be the dwellers of Paradise, abiding therein (forever) a reward for what they used to do.
We invoke Allah (Exalted be He) to place all of us among those people and protect us from the evils of ourselves and our misdeeds. Indeed, He is Omnipotent over all things. May Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon His servant and Messenger, our Prophet Muhammad, his Household, and Companions!