Central Khutbah: “Live with Joy and Trust in Allah”

Praise be to Allah, Lord of all worlds, who has guided the believers to the path of happiness and contentment. I testify that there is no god but Allah, the One, and I testify that Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, is His servant and messenger. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, his family, his companions, and all those who follow the path of goodness.

Dear brothers and sisters, today we will talk about an emotion that can affect every human being – sadness. Sadness is a state that can overwhelm the heart, slow us down, weaken our determination, and plunge us into despair. This is what Shaytan uses to distance us from worship and a positive outlook on life. It is therefore important to understand how a believer should approach sadness and worries.

The scholar Hafiz Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

“The word sadness is forbidden in the Qur’an: ‘Do not grieve and do not be sad! You will be superior if you are believers!’” (Aali Imran, 139) – or it is negated: ‘The friends of Allah have nothing to fear and should not grieve!’” (Yunus, 62)

The Qur’an teaches us through these verses to distance ourselves from sadness, as it brings no benefit. Sadness weakens the heart, hinders our resolve, and our will. Shaytan uses sadness as a means to slow our path toward Allah and our motivation for doing good. This is why the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, sought refuge from sadness and anxiety through this supplication:

“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from sadness and anxiety!”

This supplication shows the importance of freeing the heart from sadness to stay focused and strong in our worship. When the heart is weakened by sadness, our will to do good and seek Allah’s satisfaction is also weakened. Thus, dear brothers and sisters, Allah encourages us to be joyful, optimistic, and to think well of Him.

A joyful heart, filled with trust in Allah, is a heart that finds peace and satisfaction. An optimistic believer sees light and goodness in every trial because he relies on Allah’s wisdom. The pious predecessors often said:

“I turn to Allah with a supplication, and if Allah grants it, I rejoice once; but if He does not grant it, I rejoice ten times more, for the first answer was my choice, and the second was Allah’s choice.”

How wise and strong this understanding is! They understood that Allah knew best what was good for them, and this is why they felt joy even when Allah did not respond to their request. They were aware that if Allah did not fulfill their supplication, He had chosen something better for them. This teaches us that at every moment in life, even in trials, we should accept with joy and gratitude.

The scholar Ibn Sa‘di, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

“Life is already short, so do not shorten it further with worries, sadness, and affliction!”

This statement teaches us that life already passes quickly, so why burden it further with sadness and concerns? Would it not be better to fill our time with joy, satisfaction, worship, and good deeds? Happy is the one who fills his heart with faith and trust in Allah. Such a person, even in the most difficult moments, finds tranquility, for he knows that Allah is always with him.

A believer who has faith in Allah’s wisdom and mercy lives with peace and security. He knows that every trial has its reason and that behind every hardship is relief. Our duty is to see in every trial an opportunity to draw closer to Allah, for every hardship has an end, and every pain finds its ease. Allah says in the Qur’an:

“Indeed, with hardship comes ease!” (Ash-Sharh, 6)

So, dear brothers and sisters, let us live our lives with faith and trust in Allah. When we encounter difficulty, let it be an opportunity to increase our devotion to Allah, for He knows what is best for us. At all times, let us remember that Allah’s help and mercy are always there, as long as we turn to Him and place our trust in Him.

We ask Allah, the Most High, to grant us a heart filled with tranquility, to protect us from sadness and worries, and to make us of those who always trust in Him. Ameen!

(Central khutbah by the religious leader Hafiz Hilmija Redžić on October 18, 2024, at the “Association Islamique de Luxembourg” in Bonnevoie)