Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdol-Hameed Ismaeelzahi began his latest Friday sermon (July 13, 2012) by reading the holy verse: «فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُواْ لِي وَلاَ تَكْفُرُونِ» [بقره: 152], (So Remember Me, and I will remember you, and be thankful to Me, and be not ungrateful to Me) and expressed his views on the importance of giving thanks to Allah Almighty and remembering Him which are the fruits of patience.
Khateeb of Ahl-us-Sunnah in Zahedan, Iran, said, ‘Allah Exalted has mentioned two important issues in the above-recited verse; the first one is Dhikr, remembrance of Allah that is a very pivotal deed. It has a major role in the lives of mankind. The second point is giving thanks to Allah over His great blessings.’
He further said that there was a rational behind mentioning Dhikr and Shokr, giving thanks, together; remembering Allah is giving thanks to Allah in fact. Allah wants His slaves to be grateful as well as rememberer. It has come after that verse: «یا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اسْتَعِينُواْ بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلاَةِ إِنَّ اللّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ», (O you who believe, seek help through patience and prayer. Surely, Allah is with those who are patient.) It shows that giving thanks and remembering Allah are the fruits of patience. In other words; if someone is not patient, s/he can not be grateful and Dhaaker, rememberer, servant of Allah.
Enlightening the importance of Dhikr, Shaikh Ismaeelzahi stated, ‘Whoever remembers Allah, s/he has remembered a very great divinity. But the more notable point is that if we remember Allah, He would mention us in a very greater gathering while we are so weak and nothing before Allah. Whenever you say “Subhan Allah”, it shows that you have worshiped Allah, the Sublime. Be sure He would remember you in a much better meeting. When people come to know that any important person mentioned them in their meetings, such people become over joyful. But Allah, the only creator of the each and every thing, remembers His servants in presence of angels if they remember Him.’
Then, Mawlana Abdol-Hameed talked about the importance of giving thanks to Allah saying, ‘We should be grateful to Allah over all of His blessings including visible and invisible blessings. We must accept Allah’s blessings by tongue and heart and give thanks all the time. Obeying Allah’s commands is giving thanks; offering prayers, giving Zakah, observing fast and giving donation to needy people are some actual types of thanks.’
He put misusing Allah’s blessings a clear ingratitude, saying that utilizing Allah’s favors in sins is the biggest thanklessness. No one should spend his wealth to give bribery, buy wine, drugs and other harmful things.
Shaikh-ul-Islam exhorted the audience saying, ‘We should control our feelings in all circumstances. At unwilling events and calamities, words of ungratefulness should not be said. As well as, in happy times, we should not forget Allah and disobey Him. It is a disgrace for any Muslim to fail in controlling of his/her feelings in happiness.’
Khateeb of Sunnis, in addition, called on the participants of the Friday prayers to avoid extravagance in marriage parties and said more, ‘The best marriage ceremony is the simplest one which carries less expenses. There must not be prodigality and other misdeeds in marriage parties. Instead of music and illicit songs, Islamic songs and discourses should be part of the parties. Muslims have their own life style and particular culture; they should not imitate the Western traditions.’
At the end of his sermon, Shaikh Abdol-Hameed asked all people to look for Ramadan’s crescent in coming Thursday evening.