Khutba - about the lessons derived from the story of Habil and Qabil.
Yousuf Saleh - 30th January 2015
All Praise is due to Allah (swt) who is the Sustainer of all the Universe. May the
peace and blessings of Allah (swt) be upon Muhammad (saws), his family, his
companions and all those who follow him in righteousness until the day of
resurrection.
Amma Bad.
Respected brothers and sisters at home, today’s khutba is about the lessons derived
from the Quranic story of Habil and Qabil.
I would like to start today’s khutba with the Aayah mentioned in Suratul-Imran, ch-3
and verse 54. Allah (swt) said, ‘Allah is the best of planners’. At the beginning of
human history Allah (swt) illuminated the key to success in both worlds and the
source of humiliation and chastisement of both worlds through the actions and
attitudes of Habil and Qabil.
The lesson we learn from their story is to teach our children the essence of Tawheed
Properly. Imagine, the deepness of the belief of habil, He said to Qabil, "if you kill
me, all my sins will be on your scale on the Day of Judgement." We learn from
Habil's statement that Adam (AS) taught his children AUTHENTIC TAUHEED,
Allah (swt) Mentioned in ch-79 ver-39, ’As for the one who fears standing before his
Rabb and who restrains himself from carnal passions. Then Jannah shall definitely be
his abode’.
The firmness of beliefimplantedthe humbleattitude and response in habil that he
showed to his brother. His Imaan directed him towards the peaceful path of Allah
while he was facing the dreadful trial caused by his own brother, and his purefaith
and action destined him to his lofty and final abode in Jannah.
This is the great lesson we learn. We learn that salvation lays beneath the firmness
of Imaan, which we need to be fixed in our heart like habil and we need to fulfil the
requirement of instilling it in our children’s heart accordingly. Or we will getnumerous Qabils in our society who willinitiate various types of trials, violations,
transgression and killing in society and will become losers in both worlds.
Respected brothers and sisters at home, among the many lessons we learn from the
story of Qabil and Habil, we learn that envy and jealousy are very evil. One of the
main doors of Satan. The entrance of numerous deadly sins. It is the main reason of
killing, the fire flaming disease of the hearts, it is the route of disunity and fighting, it
is the basis of enmity and family breakdown, it cuts off the rope of respect and
beliefs, it deprives from the peace of this world and the salvation in the Aakhirah.
Respected brothers and sisters at home, whenever a person becomes jealous or
envious of others, he opens two doors of destruction to him. Allah’s curse and
becoming a loser in both worlds. Allah (swt) meted out His eternal curse on Satan,
because of Satan’s envy and jealousy shown towards Adam (AS). He mentioned in
ch-4 and ve-118, ’Allah has cursed him, Satan.’
About the jealousy of Qabil Allah (swt) mentioned in ch-5 and ve-30. ‘Thereby he
became among the losers’.
Abul Lais Samarqandee said an envious or jealous person received five types of
punishment from Allah (swt) before the envy or jealousy can reach the victim.
Number one is: covering his life with distress. Number two is: Endless calamities.
Number three is:humiliation surrounds him. Number four is:Allah becomes angry
with him. Number five is:Allah(swt) closes the door of Thawfeeq, the abilities of
doing righteous deeds.
Respected brothers and sisters at home, Allah did tell us that when we are on Earth,
we will hate each other, this is because we all compete for the same things. It is a
common tendency for human beings that they don’t want to see that someone is
doing better than them. Irrespective of kith and kin. Unless they haveproper God
consciousness.
Look at Qabil. He became envious of his brother, whybecause Habil was good
looking, had a beautiful wife and his Qurbani offering was considered better. He
became envious and Jealous of his brother instead of asking Allah for the same
blessing that Allah had blessed habil with.
This teaches us a lesson that sometimes we tend to blame others for our
misfortunes instead of holding our own selves accountable. Allah describes the evil
end and consequence of transgression, envy and injustice in the story of the two
sons of Adam, Habil and Qabil.
Respected brothers and sisters at home, the effects of jealousy and envy are so
destructive and harmful. This is why our beloved Prophet (saw) taught us to ask
Allah (swt) after every Fard salah for the protection from the evil eye and jealousy
by reciting Muawwadhatain and at the end we say…………I seek refuge with Allah
from the evil of the envier when he envies’.
Allah asked us to seek refuge in Him from the envious, because a person's envy can
cause him to kill you.
Respected brothers and sisters at home; if you ponder over this you will find the
main cause of instability globally and locally, Religiously or politically.
It is lawful to become envious on two persons only. An Aalim who is inviting people
towards Allah (swt) with his knowledge, and a donor who is donating in the way of
Allah (swt) from his wealth. You want to become like him. So, you are asking Allah
(swt) to grant you the position and ability like them without depriving them. Except
these, The Prophet (saw) said in a hadith mentioned in Abu Dawud that envy
consumes the virtues just as the fire consumes the firewood.
Allah (swt) mentioned in ch-4 and ve-54. ‘Do they envy men for what Allah (swt) has
given them out of His bounty?
The remedy of envy is to reflect on stories of world renowned envious and jealous
people. For instance remember the consequences of Qabil, Firawn, Qaroon,
Nimrood and AbuJahl and so on.
Another remedy is, the person you have envy and jealousy towards, you should
praise him frequently especially in his absence and try to benefit him in any way.
Insha Allah, your ill feelings towards them will dissipate.
May Allah give us the ability to strive constantly, to free ourselves from even the last
crumb of envy and jealousy.
