Central Sermon : “Calmness – A Quality That Brings Peace”

Praises to Allah the Most High, blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, his noble family, his companions, and all those who follow the guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah, the only correct guidance until the Day of Judgment.

We have achieved much in life, we continue to achieve more, and as long as we live, we will attain various successes, praises, knowledge, etc. All this is possible for everyone. It is the result of the causes established by Allah on earth – whoever strives, achieves results, to a greater or lesser extent.
However, the question that we all ask ourselves is whether all that we have and desire truly brings us peace?
Because of this question, I would like to begin today’s sermon with an interesting observation:
“It is true that science can lead man to set foot on the Moon, but it cannot lead him to grasp the secret of his existence and the purpose of life. Man, through science, has discovered many things, but he has not discovered the truth about himself. The science of the 20th century brought him to the surface of the Moon, but did not bring him tranquility and happiness on the surface of the Earth; from the Moon, he brought back some rocks and dust, but not that which could have freed him from anxiety and wandering on his planet. The science of the 20th century gave man weapons to tame some natural forces, but did not give him the means to overcome his passions, doubts, fears, anxiety, inner and collective conflict.”

True tranquility is found in pure and correct faith, in worship, in the purity of the soul and heart. As Sheikh Salman Al-Awdah, may Allah preserve him, said: “The tranquility of the soul is reflected in the tranquility of the tongue and heart, the tranquility of the expression of the face and body. It is not only prayer, fasting, and pilgrimage that are acts of worship, but the whole life is an act of worship that teaches a Muslim discipline, even with oneself. Tranquility is found in a moment, and that is the moment before reacting to a provocation.”
As the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, wisely said: “Patience is shown at the first blow.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

This is also confirmed by the well-known hadith of Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, according to which he said: “A man said to the Prophet: ‘O Messenger of Allah, it is said about such and such woman that she prays a lot, fasts a lot, and gives a lot of charity, but she troubles her neighbors with her tongue.’ The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: ‘She is in the Fire.'” (Reported by Ahmad, Ibn Hibban, and Hakim)

So those who disturb human peace with their tongues do not benefit from voluntary charity, voluntary prayers, or voluntary fasting. Subhanallah, so many great acts of worship disappear in the shadow of the ugliness of the tongue and what it does!
Therefore, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, encourages us: “Whoever restrains his anger, Allah will cover his faults, and whoever controls his anger when he is able to express it, Allah will make his heart content on the Day of Judgment.” (Reported by Tabarani)

A disturbed, angry, irritated, and restless soul leaves disastrous consequences for a person’s dignity, morality, and reputation.
Abu Hatim Al-Busti, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “Explosive anger is more deadly to the mind than fire to dry wood. Reason leaves one who becomes angry and speaks what comes to him from evil thoughts in his soul and does what dishonors him, and it destroys it.”

Haste in evaluations, insufficient level of knowledge, following assumptions, desire for distinction are just some of the reasons that can distance us from calmness and its discovery. Note the following hadith:

Ubayy ibn Ka’b, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “Two men entered the mosque and prayed, and each of them recited the Quran with a recitation that I disputed. I informed the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, about it, so he ordered them to recite before him. They both recited, and the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, approved the recitation of each of them. I strongly denied it in my soul, which had never happened to me, even in the time of ignorance.” When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, saw what had seized Ubayy, he placed his hand on his chest. Regarding this, Ubayy said: “I was all sweaty, as if I were looking at my Lord with reverence.” (Reported by Muslim)

We conclude this sermon with the words of Sheikh Salman Al-Awdah, may Allah preserve him:

“Do not allow assumptions that breed fear to deprive you of the pleasure of living, for in most cases, they never materialize. It has been scientifically proven that 90% of the things people fear never actually happen. As an Arab poet said: I said to my heart: When worry pierces you. Do not worry too much, for they are mainly illusions!”

May the words of the Most High always be engraved in our minds:

“Say, ‘Nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed for us; He is our Protector.’ And upon Allah let the believers rely.” (Surah At-Tawba, verse 51)

May our Lord grant us tranquility in this world and in the Hereafter.”

(Central Sermon by the religious leader Hafiz Hilmija Redžić on March 8, 2024, at the “Association Islamique de Wiltz”)