Sikander Hashmi – Guard Your Prayers KMA Friday Message
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AI: Transcript ©
Muhammad.
Respected elders,
dear brothers and sisters,
my young friends, Assalamu alaikum.
We begin by praising Allah
the lord of the universe,
our creator, our sustainer, our protector, our nourisher.
And we begin by sending peace and salutations
upon his beloved messenger,
Muhammad, the son of
So brothers and sisters,
as we get into November,
we know that the days start getting shorter
in terms of daylight.
We used to be offering Maghrib in
the summertime
at almost 9 PM.
That was before 6 PM.
Sunrise used to be, on the longest day
in the summer,
5:16
AM.
Now sunrise is close to 8 AM.
And this Sunday,
the clocks will fall back 1 hour.
Now for the normal functioning of the world,
it doesn't really have a major impact except
that, you know, it gets darker earlier.
But for us,
it has a substantial impact
because it affects our prayer times.
Because the prayer timings are based on the
movements of the sun, of course.
The impact is felt most by those who
are away from home
during the day at work or at school.
Now my brothers and sisters,
the state of our prayers,
the state of our salah
is indicative of the state of our spirituality
and our relationship with Allah
This is a really important point that we
often overlook,
that the state of our salah is indicative
of the state of our spirituality and the
state of our relationship with Allah
The value that we have for salah,
for prayer, is indicative or is representative
of how much we love and value Allah
The prophet
has told us that the first action
for which a servant of Allah
will be held accountable
on the day of resurrection
will be
the prayers.
And if the prayers are in order,
then
that person will have
prospered
and succeeded.
A person could feel spiritual, which is great.
You'll notice, you know, there's a an email
survey, or
data out by Statistics Canada,
right, that talks about religiosity in Canada.
So fewer and fewer people
are coming towards organized religion,
but that doesn't mean that they don't feel
spiritual. So people say that they feel spirituality,
they want spirituality,
but that's not in an organized fashion.
But the reality is, my brothers and sisters,
that a person could feel spiritual, which is
great,
but that spirituality
cannot be complete without connecting properly with the
creator
through
Unless,
of course, a person has a valid excuse.
So the search for spirituality
will remain incomplete
unless and until a person starts connecting with
Allah
through salat and connecting to Allah
and practicing spirituality
the way it has been taught by Allah
and his messenger
Until then, spirituality
may be there, but it will remain incomplete.
The 5 obligatory
prayers,
daily obligatory prayers,
offer numerous benefits for us.
There is nothing that Allah
has prescribed for us except that it is
beneficial for us and it is good for
us. And there is nothing that Allah
has prohibited us from and that Rasulullah
has discouraged us from except that it is
harmful for us.
So the 5 daily obligatory prayers offer numerous
benefits for us
spiritually,
mentally,
physically,
socially when we come for salah in Jannah'ah
and especially when our prayers are performed properly.
Allah
Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala tells us in the
Quran. Observe the prayers, the 5 obligatory prayers.
And Allah has emphasized, especially the middle prayer,
and stand in true devotion to Allah
It is reported in the 2
that
said, I asked the prophet
which deed is dearest to Allah, and he
replied,
to offer the prayers
at their fixed times.
Imam Abu Dhabi writes in his regarding
the explanation of to
safeguard the prayers, to observe the prayers. What
does that actually mean?
So he says
that be diligent
and stick
to
to the written to the obligatory prayers
with their timings
and limits
and the completion of their pair pillars.
So what does it mean to safeguard? To
observe the timing,
to observe
the limits or the guidelines of the prayer,
and to ensure that its pillars are being
completed.
Now you'll notice that Allah
puts a special emphasis on the middle prayers.
Now the majority of the of the Quran
say that this is referring to
because it is in the middle of the
day, the middle prayer of the day.
There's also mention of because the Islamic day
starts or date starts at time, and therefore,
Fajr is the one that is in the
middle.
In fact, Imam and his mentions 10 opinions
from Sahaba
and from our pious predecessors.
And you think about it and you wonder,
you say, okay. You know, there are 5
prayers in a day, so how come there
are 10 opinions with regards
to
Well, this is something for further study.
You know, sometimes we find multiple scholarly opinions.
We find them confusing
and frustrating because we're like, okay, we're trying
to figure out which one is right and
which one is wrong. So I say my
brothers and sisters, there is no need for
that because Allah
has left it unclear.
And when Allah
leaves something unclear,
there is some wisdom in that.
When Allah
makes it clear, there is wisdom in that.
And everything that Allah
says or does, there is wisdom in that.
So Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has left salatulmusla
unclear, meaning he has not defined it. Indeed,
there is some wisdom in that. And, of
course, we respect all of the scholarly opinions
we find from the sahaba radiAllahu anhu
and our pious predecessors and the scholars of
knowledge and taqwa.
So perhaps it is the prayer you struggle
with most
that Allah
is emphasizing
because we find all of the prayers mentioned
in different opinions with regards to Surah Al
Musta.
Now in aiah 102,
Allah
also says,
That indeed, performing prayers
is a duty on the believers
at the appointed times.
So timing is emphasized
that one should make it a priority
to offer salah but to off but also
to offer salah on time,
to offer the salah on
time.
Now
first of all, of course,
whenever possible,
we should
schedule
or we should make
our schedules
around our salah, around the prayer time. And
of course, you have to be aware of
this. You have to care about this to
think ahead,
to make it a priority,
to check the schedules, to check the timings.
What is it gonna be on that date
when I'm scheduling this meeting or this appointment
or this travel?
Right? So try to make that a major
part of our scheduling
whenever we have the ability to do so.
Of course, there may be times when we
don't have a choice. But when we have
a choice, we try to schedule our day
around the prayer timing so that we can
give due priority
to our prayers.
Secondly,
also know that being able to offer salah
at work,
at school
is your right.
It is a protected right
unless doing so places an undue burden
on the workplace or on your employer or
the school.
It is a right.
Employers and schools in Canada
are required
to offer
reasonable accommodation
by law for religious rights.
So when we ask for that,
we're not asking for something unusual.
We're not asking for something that is
unheard of or that is not part of
law.
We must, of course, work and study well,
be a positive
contributor,
a positive part of our work and school.
Contribute well,
but also make sure
that the things that are important for us
are a priority.
Know, my brothers and sisters, that our needs
will only be accommodated and made a priority
when we make them a priority,
when we put in the effort.
So what does that mean?
It means that at work, in most cases,
you can ask for a quiet place to
pray for 5 minutes. And, of course, be
reasonable and fair.
Don't remember all the teachings about Khushu and
Salah and the perfection and everything when you're
at work
and the clock is ticking.
And then when you're at home and the
masjid, you forget about it because you have
other things to do. So be reasonable and
fair.
Right? Know that if you're taking time out
for salah from work, you make up for
that time
because it is paid time.
So be honest, be fair, and be reasonable
when you are being accommodated
for your religious requirements.
Just like, you know, we take breaks for
washrooms or other for going to the washroom
or for other needs,
while offering salah is also a very important
need for the believer.
For schools,
bring it up with the school administration.
Again, kindly and in a reasonable manner.
A lot of times, the response
depends on how we approach the situation.
If you go, you know, all gung ho,
guns blazing, obviously, not literally,
you know, then the response is is
perhaps going to be according to to how
you approached it.
Right? So approach it with kindness in a
reasonable manner, in a polite manner. Now from
next week,
having
here after school is not going to be
possible because of the time change.
So far, we have been trying to accommodate
before
to have a so that students can come
and other people who are not able to
come at this time are able to come,
but it's not going to be possible.
So if possible,
try to arrange with the school
to have
in the school.
This is not unheard of in Canada, in
Ontario,
even in Ottawa. In high schools, there is
a precedence
for that.
Now, of course, the timings may not match,
and I was looking at the school schedules
and different schools have different lunch breaks at
different times.
So if there's no other choice,
can be held earlier before the lower time.
Right? This isn't a valid opinion in the
Hambary school.
And similarly,
you know, it could be offered if needed
or
can be offered
in the Hanafi
time, which extends
beyond the the time of the majority.
Now if
is not available,
perhaps it is not possible at your school,
especially at your child's school, especially because of
COVID and all, you know, the situation we
are in,
then make an effort to take out your
kids.
Especially when they are Islamically mature, they are.
First
If you cannot do it every week,
then at least once every 3 weeks if
possible. See, the prophet
has said, Abdullah Muhammad
and Abu Huraira
said they heard Allah's messenger
say on the planks of his pulpit that
people must cease to neglect the Friday prayer.
Oh, Allah will seal their hearts, and then
they will become among the negligent.
And the prophet
also said this is related in Sahih Muslim.
The prophet
also
said
that
that he who leaves the Friday prayer continuously
for 3 Fridays
on account of slackness. Right? So that condition
is there. Allah
will put a
or will print or will put a stamp
on their heart, and this is regarded by
Abu Dawood.
So my brothers and sisters, if our child
has an appointment,
a dentist appointment, a doctor's appointment,
a counseling appointment, we take them out of
school.
So which appointment is more important
than the appointment with Allah
Now, of course,
is not obligatory upon
women
and girls, and this is from the mercy
of Allah
But we should still make an effort to
highlight its importance
for them
to be able to offer salah in school
at least
if they're not offering salah to Jum'ah.
My brothers and sisters, the way we approach
this
issue of salah
sends a message,
what does it do?
It sends a message to our children
and to the school.
Once enough children
and parents
start doing it,
it will bring about positive change.
Now you might try to offer your best.
You might try your best to offer salah
on time,
but you may still struggle due to circumstances
beyond your control.
It's possible.
You know, your heart is in the right
place. You're reminded.
You feel it, but you're stuck
because of something that is not in your
control.
In that case, try your best.
If you miss the timing of a prayer,
because they will come very quickly,
make it up as soon as possible when
you're able to. Repent to Allah subhanahu wa
ta'ala and know that Allah
knows your intentions
and the effort that you have made.
There are 2 duas duas I'm going to
end with.
Because, of course, we make the effort, but
we always depend on Allah
for his help and his assistance
even when it comes to his worship,
even when it comes
to his worship.
Reported the messenger
of
Allah took hold of my hand
and said,
you,
By Allah, I love you.
So I advise you to never forget to
recite after every prayer.
Oh, Allah,
help me remember you, to be grateful to
you,
and
to worship you in an excellent manner,
to worship you in an excellent
manner. And secondly, of course, is the famous
Dua,
Usayna Ibrahim alayhis salam insurah Ibrahim in the
Quran.
My lord, make me an establisher of prayer,
and many from my descendants.
Our lord, and accept our sup my supplication.
Our lord, forgive me and my parents and
the believers
the day the account is established.
May Allah
make us those who safeguard their salah. May
Allah
make us and our future generations
those who value and prioritize their salah every
single day of their lives. May
Allah guide us to make our salah, to
offer our salah in the best way, the
way he likes to have us do it.
My
brothers and sisters, we have a number of,
pieces of sad news.
Many members of our community losing loved ones,
in the past week.
Sister
Asma, Shehata, her mother, passed away in Egypt
on Saturday.
Sister Dania Taimur, her father passed away in
Pakistan on Saturday as well.
And brother Sayed, Hamad, Raza and sister Aisha
Rafi, their mother passed away in Pakistan on
Wednesday.
We make dua for them and all of
those who have passed away.
We ask Allah
to gain support Jameel to all of their
loved ones.
We ask Allah
to cure all of those who are ill,
especially our young brother who was in a
motor motorcycle crash and is recovering,
our brother and sister who are,
living with long term pain and injuries, our
elderly sister who is living in pain, our
brother and our young child who is fighting
cancer, and all of those who are in
pain and who are suffering physically or mentally
or emotionally or any other way.
Please cure them all. You Allah restore them
to better than they were before. Oh, Allah.
Oh, Allah. Please remove all of their pain
and suffering. I mean,