Sheikh Saud Bin Ibrahim Al-Sheraim, Imam and Khateeb of the Grand Mosque advised Muslims to be mindful of Almighty Allah and seek to please Him and keep away from all that displeases Him. In his Friday sermon at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Sheikh Al-Sheraim said stability and peace of mind are what all human beings are striving for, even if they differ in specifying their criteria and the means to achieve them. Some people have a narrow view and restrict the realization of stability and peace of mind to making more money, others see this in achieving a high social status or an official position while others see this in having a large family comprising many children. Even though these concepts enjoy a high esteem in the worldly life, it nevertheless remains a relative matter and differs from person to person depending on the time and the situation. However, the reality is contrary to all these, and to stress his point Sheikh Al-Sheraim gave examples. He said there are many rich people living in misery because they have not found in opulence the real sense of wealth they were seeking. There are many people in high positions but are not happy and have not experienced any stability or peace of mind. There are others who have large families with many children but are unhappy, anxious and dissatisfied with life. On the other hand, one may find a person who is poor, does not enjoy a high standing in the community and does not have children, but has a large heart and peace of mind. A poor man may be living in an humble shack but is happy and contented while a rich man may be living in a spacious palace but is still unhappy. Sheikh Al-Sheraim stressed that the difference between the two kinds is that in the last example, though the man is poor Allah has blessed him with contentment (Ridha). Being content with life is a weapon against its many miseries, Al-Sheraim said. Sheikh Al-Sheraim further said, “In this age in which there are waves of seditions and catastrophes attacking it, the Ummah is in the greatest need of declaring contentment with Allah as the only Lord, Islam as its religion and Muhammad (peace be upon him) as its prophet. The Ummah is in the diret need to internalize this firm conviction in heart, and proclaim it in word and deed. We hear such a declaration with the tongues quite a lot but that does not serve any purpose. We are in the urgent need for this declaration to be acted upon in our daily lives and in different affairs.” The hearts are longing to see in the practical reality of people's lives their being contented with the divine power (Uluhiyyah) of Allah Almighty. This means that they love, fear and seek help from Allah alone. A Muslim should believe that destiny of every person has been pre-ordained by Allah alone. If Allah is satisfied with a person, then that person will be contented and satisfied with his life and will receive care and protection from Allah, Sheikh Al-Sheraim observed. Sheikh Al-Sheraim said the widespread contentment with Allah's religion on earth will be a cause for happiness for all Muslim communities. When the Ummah takes pride in its religion and is contented with it as a just arbiter in all its affairs, then it will succeed and will be guided to the right path. “A society that calls people to piety, reminds them of their duty to Allah, and in whose midst one smells the fragrance of righteousness is a truly contented society that feels the need for this religion the way water and air are necessary for life because any Ummah that neglects its religion and hinders Allah's word to reign supreme in its midst, is actually neglecting its greatest potentials and not acting for the cause of its success in this world and the Hereafter,” he said. Al-Sheraim said disturbances, discords, humiliation, fear and chaos are all related to being contented with religion and that Islam is the perfect religion that is suitable for every age and place. It is the religion of compassion, kindness, strength, truth, honesty and uprightness in which people worship Allah alone. Sheikh Al-Sheraim stressed that the sweetness of belief (Iman) will not touch the believer's heart unless he is contented with and accepts Muhammad (peace be upon him) as Allah's prophet and messenger. He should subject himself to the guidance brought by him and submit fully to what was revealed to him. The teachings of the Prophet (peace be upon him) should serve as the judge in all affairs and a Muslim should not accept anything else. He should not have any feeling of embarrassment regarding what was revealed to our Prophet and his teachings even if they are contrary to his feelings or whims or contradict what has been said by somebody, whoever he might be. Sheikh Al-Sheraim quoted Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) as saying: “All my Ummah will enter Paradise except those who refuse.” He was asked: “Who will refuse, O Prophet of Allah?” He replied, “Whoever obeys me will enter Paradise, but whoever disobeys me has refused.” Sheikh Al-Sheraim warned that there is nothing more hateful than disobeying the Prophet (peace be upon him) and following one's whims or desires or giving priority to intellect or casting doubts on the Prophet's teachings the way some people did. Meanwhile, Sheikh Hussein Aal Al-Sheikh, Imam and Khateeb of the Prophet's Mosque in Madina said according to the texts of the Holy Qur'an and the Prophet's Sunnah, men's sins are the cause of all tribulations and evil. Sins were the cause for the loss of many bounties and have brought many tribulations, seditions and ordeals. In his Friday sermon at the Prophet's Mosque in Madina, Aal Al-Sheikh said the spread of crimes and diseases and lack of security are due to people distancing themselves from the path of Allah and violating the teachings and guidance of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He stressed that evils cannot be warded off unless we obey Allah Almighty. He said security and stability cannot be achieved except by a firm belief in Allah Almighty and by obeying the teachings of the Qur'an and the Sunnah in private and in public. He gave examples of the evils and catastrophes that have befallen mankind including earthquakes, hurricanes and wars. He said this is not strange when we see the spread of heinous crimes and hateful sins including adultery (Zina) and satellite channels that entice people to commit sins. He said it has become easy for Muslims to drink liquor, indulge in drug abuse and imitate the unbelievers in their dress and ways of life. He said the world economies have deteriorated. There are price hikes and high inflation rates and poverty on the increase. Debts are soaring. The Muslim communities are no exception to what the world is suffering from. Sheikh Aal Al-Sheikh criticized usury (Riba) in commercial dealings and said that some Muslim countries even facilitate usurious transactions. He said some of these commercial dealings are far removed from the tenets of Islam. It is the worldly considerations that are governing people's values and morals. Aal Al-Sheikh stressed that to attain contentment with what Allah gives can only be had by obeying Him. He added that blessing (Barakah) in one's livelihood (Rizq) and in everything else can only be attained by being mindful of Allah Almighty and fearing Him by inculcating righteousness and piety. He said many countries are suffering from the lack of rain and the spread of drought. He said we must remember and learn a lesson from some Muslims who have neglected paying Zakat or even prevent people from paying it. Some Muslims sell their fruits or crops before they have ripened despite Islam forbidding this. He stressed that any people who do not pay their Zakat will be deprived of rainfall. Were it not for the animals (livestock, etc.) living on the earth not even a drop of rain would have been sent down to it by Allah. Aal Al-Sheikh said happiness, contented hearts and good living can only be achieved by obeying Allah, not to speak of getting rewarded with a blissful life in the Hereafter. He stressed the importance of glorifying Allah through Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and performance of prayer (salat). He criticized those who replace Islamic laws with secular one's and said these are among the causes of tribulations and adversities. __
