YOUR BANK CHEQUE: A GIFT WORTH MILLIONS

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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Imagine holding a bank cheque made out in your name, worth millions of dollars. Suddenly, while walking, you accidentally drop it into a fire and watch it burn to ashes.

How would you feel? You would scream in disbelief. You might even cry over such a devastating loss!

Now, consider this: every Friday, some Muslims risk losing an enormous opportunity for reward simply because they fail to observe the proper manners of listening to the Jumu‘ah khutbah.

Yes, my dear brothers and sisters! Jumu‘ah is a tremendous opportunity to earn Allah’s mercy, forgiveness and rewards. Yet, some people enter the mosque hoping to benefit from this blessed gathering, only to spend the khutbah distracted by things that could easily have been avoided.

But why does this happen?

While the imam is delivering the khutbah, some people engage in worldly conversations. Others scroll through their phones, browse the internet, exchange messages or answer calls.

These distractions deprive us of the opportunity to listen attentively and benefit from the sermon. The Prophet ﷺ warned us against even telling another person to be quiet during the khutbah.

He ﷺ said:

“If you say to your companion, ‘Listen attentively,’ while the imam is delivering the khutbah on Friday, then you have engaged in idle speech.”

— Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim

Think about it! If telling someone else to be quiet can constitute idle speech, how much more careful should we be about engaging in lengthy conversations or allowing our phones to distract us?

The same principle of avoiding unnecessary distractions applies to playing with our fingers, clicking our knuckles, fiddling with our clothes and other actions that divert our attention from the khutbah.

Even when someone enters the mosque late, we should avoid unnecessary conversation and remain focused on the sermon.

My dear brothers and sisters, let us take the khutbah seriously!

This life is a test, filled with trials, temptations and financial challenges. We all have our struggles, including the burden of a difficult economy. Nevertheless, we must never allow worldly concerns to make us neglect opportunities to prepare for the Hereafter.

Every Friday offers us another opportunity to invest in our eternal future through worship, remembrance of Allah, listening attentively to the khutbah and performing righteous deeds.

And remember, our preparation for the Hereafter does not end with personal acts of worship. It also includes supporting beneficial causes that serve the Muslim community.

LET US SUPPORT OUR MOSQUES.

Allah has entrusted human beings with responsibilities, including maintaining our mosques and supporting beneficial religious activities. We should not leave these responsibilities entirely to others while we enjoy the benefits.

Therefore, I use this medium to remind myself first, and then my dear brothers and sisters, to cultivate the habit of setting aside a reasonable amount of money regularly, according to our means, for the sake of Allah.

Whenever possible, contribute to the Fī Sabīlillāh donation box at the mosque where you regularly pray, especially on Fridays. Your contributions can help maintain the mosque, support its activities and facilitate the teaching and propagation of Islam.

Never underestimate a small contribution given sincerely for the sake of Allah. What matters is not the size of the donation alone, but the sincerity with which it is given.

Allah says:

“The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains.”

— Qur’an 2:261

May Allah grant us the wisdom to use our time and wealth wisely, enable us to observe the proper manners of Jumu‘ah, accept our acts of worship and charitable contributions, and make them a source of reward for us in the Hereafter.

Āmīn, Yā Rabbal-‘Ālamīn.