Central Khutbah: “The Loss of Allah’s Blessings – Stop and Reflect” (Gallery)
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate, the Master of the Day of Judgment. May blessings and peace be upon the last messenger of Allah, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), as well as upon his noble family and honorable companions.
In the Qur’an, Allah encourages us to reflect, saying:
“And relate to them the story of the one to whom We gave Our signs, but he detached himself from them; so Satan pursued him, and he became one of the deviators.” (Al-A‘raf, 175)
Reflection is a form of worship that the first generations of Muslims regarded as one of the highest acts of devotion. Umar ibn Abd al-`Aziz (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“Reflecting on the blessings of Allah is the best form of worship.” (Al-Qurtubi, Tafsir)
Al-Hasan al-Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“Contemplating for an hour is better than worship throughout the night.” (Ibn Qayyim, Madarij al-Salikin)
Abu Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“Reflecting for an hour is better than a year of worship.” (At-Tabari, Tafsir)
Sufyan ath-Thawri advises us:
“Reflect today on what you have prepared for tomorrow.” (Ibn Kathir, Tafsir)
Mujahid ibn Jabr (may Allah have mercy on him) emphasizes:
“Reflecting on good leads to doing it, and reflecting on evil leads to avoiding it.” (Al-Qurtubi, Tafsir)
Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“There is no benefit in worship without reflection, nor in knowledge without understanding.” (At-Tabari, Tafsir)
Let us reflect on the example of Balaam ibn Ba‘ura, a man to whom Allah had granted great knowledge and the gift of answered supplications. Allah mentions him in Surah Al-A‘raf, comparing him to a dog that pants whether it is driven away or left alone:
“And if We had willed, We could have elevated him by them, but he adhered to the earth and followed his desires. So his example is like that of a dog: if you drive it away, it pants; or if you leave it, it still pants.” (Al-A‘raf, 176)
Balaam was a scholar among the Children of Israel, but driven by greed and desires, he succumbed to the pressure of his people. He agreed to supplicate against Musa (peace be upon him), even though he knew Musa was a prophet of Allah. By doing so, he deliberately betrayed his knowledge and strayed from the truth. His end was ruin—he lost Allah’s blessings and became a symbol of greed and disobedience.
Reflection leads us to understand our own actions and recognize Allah’s signs. `Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“Fearing Allah suffices as knowledge, and being deceived about Allah suffices as ignorance.” (Ibn Kathir, Tafsir)
Ibn Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) highlights:
“The root of all good and evil is reflection, for it is the starting point of desire and effort.” (Madarij al-Salikin)
Imam Ash-Shafi‘i (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“The intelligent person is the one whose thoughts are focused on the consequences of his actions.” (Al-Qurtubi, Tafsir)
Reflection is not merely an intellectual process; it is an act of worship that brings us closer to Allah. It teaches us gratitude, strengthens our faith, and helps us avoid wrongful actions.
“Evil is the example of the people who denied Our signs and wronged themselves.” (Al-A‘raf, 177)
Let us be among those who reflect, show gratitude, and follow Allah’s path so that we may attain success in this world and the Hereafter.
O Allah, grant us the strength to recognize Your blessings, appreciate them, and worship You sincerely. Protect us from trials that lead to misguidance and make us among those who strengthen their faith through reflection.
Amin.
(Central khutbah by the religious leader Hafiz Hilmija Redžić on January 10, 2025, at the “Centre Islamique Gazi Isa-beg” in Esch-sur-Alzette)