In light of the current pandemic #Covid-19 sweeping the globe, the question about the end times keeps coming up in religious circles.
This Khutbah makes the argument that this is an issue that, while important as a doctrinal point, our focus is to be elsewhere.
We have made this KHUTBAH available on YouTube as well as the mosque Facebook page. For the time being, our Friday sermons will be live-streamed every Friday at 1:00 P.M. (PST). Follow our page at https://www.facebook.com/TheMasjidIbrahim/ .
The Khutbah video is below
From Facebook
If you are unable to view the Facebook, the same recording is available on YouTube.
Can Judgement day be mapped out (17 minute clip)
We recommend viewing from Facebook, as the YouTube recording is a bit short.
Discussion and feedback is always welcome.
5 comments:
Hi Waheed.
I think I've asked this before, but perhaps you can try to clarify this for me one more time. You say that we will all be held accountable before Allah. Don't you believe that this happens when you die? Do you believe that you will be judged twice, first at death and then again on Judgement Day? Or is it only once, on Judgement Day, and all those who have died are still awaiting Judgement?
You seem concerned that your advice to people to not worry about Judgement Day and to remain hopeful is somehow heretical and you feel the need to reiterate that you believe in Judgement Day and that it is "real". But what is it that you believe is "real"?
Allah has shown us with His signs that the world has existed for billions of years. We have seen His creation and we understand a tiny fraction of how His complex system functions. Do you believe that Allah will suddenly change His design and the Earth will cease to exist as we know it? Do you believe that the cycle of day and night will be suddenly broken?
Allah has shown us with His signs that there is a continuity in our existence. Without this continuity life would be incoherent. It makes no sense to believe that Allah would choose a moment to interrupt the continuity of His design. What would motivate men to invent such a blasphemous idea?
I would suggest that there are "realities":
1. We know from observing Allah's signs that cataclysmic events are possible. We know that celestial objects collide with tremendous destructive force which could destroy the Earth as we know it.
2. We know that there are threats to human life, like pandemics, which could conceivably destroy the entirety of human life on Earth.
3. We know that mankind possesses the capability of destroying our own civilisations and even the entirety of human life.
However, even if human life came to an end, the world would continue to exist.
I will surely die one day, maybe the victim of a virus, maybe the victim of some sort of natural disaster that possibly destroys all of mankind, but most likely I will die from some other cause.
These are the "realities".
" I think I've asked this before, but perhaps you can try to clarify this for me one more time. You say that we will all be held accountable before Allah. Don't you believe that this happens when you die? Do you believe that you will be judged twice, first at death and then again on Judgement Day? Or is it only once, on Judgement Day, and all those who have died are still awaiting Judgement?" (N-B)
Good question. To summarize, Judgement day is the day in which the Divine Judgements are announced in a public way.
Muslim theologians use technical terms regarding the question you posed. They use terms such as "The minor hour" to refer to immediately after death, and "major" in reference to Day of Judgement.
I'm trying to avoid all the details (mainly for time), but I hope you get the point.
" You seem concerned that your advice to people to not worry about Judgement Day and to remain hopeful is somehow heretical and you feel the need to reiterate that you believe in Judgement Day and that it is "real". But what is it that you believe is "real"?" (N-B)
I believe that Judgement day, Paradise and Hell are real. Their realities, however, are not always known to us. WE as individuals may not know the details of certain subjects, however that does not negate their realities.
Many people, especially in these days, are of the view that Judgement day is near, in light of how the COVID-19 has disrupted our lives, and has itself claimed many souls. So the message in the Khutbah (sermon) was meant to address this view, to emphasis that the Islamic religion is actually inspiring and hopeful ( contrary to popular opinion).
" Allah has shown us with His signs that the world has existed for billions of years. We have seen His creation and we understand a tiny fraction of how His complex system functions. Do you believe that Allah will suddenly change His design and the Earth will cease to exist as we know it? Do you believe that the cycle of day and night will be suddenly broken?
Allah has shown us with His signs that there is a continuity in our existence. Without this continuity life would be incoherent. It makes no sense to believe that Allah would choose a moment to interrupt the continuity of His design. What would motivate men to invent such a blasphemous idea?"
For most of the above, I don't disagree. THE Qur'an says that God has a pattern (Sunnah) that does not change. However, the same text teaches that there will be a point when it all comes to an end. '"All on the earth shall perish, and what remains is the presence of your Lord, the possessor of Glory, the Most Generous", as the Qur'an words it.
The cycle of birth, life and death are all intrinsic to nature. That is also accepted by science. You mention examples of this in your numbered list above.
Even knowing that death will come, we are encouraged by the Islamic religion to live a happy and fruitful life. Do reflect on the hadeeth of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the Quranic verse referenced in the Sermon.
To N-B
I also suggest having a look at the Las Vegas Virtual Town Hall, to give you an idea of how Muslims are approaching these difficult times.
Other religious communities are having the same discussions.
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