“All praise is to Allah. We praise him, we seek His help, His forgiveness, and we seek refuge in Allah from the evil within ourselves and of our actions. Whomsoever Allah guides, none can misguide him. Whomsoever Allah leads astray, none can guide him.
I testify there is no God but Allah alone, without any partners, and that Muhammad, ﷺ, is His servant and messenger.”
Welcome to the Friday Khutbah! A weekly series on the AlMaghrib Journal, based on sermons delivered by our esteemed instructors! We hope you find it beneficial!
Ask yourself this question:
“If I was alive at the time of Prophet Nuh عليه السلام, would I have joined him on the Ark?”
It’s easy to say yes when you have an Islamic upbringing, when guidance is clear, when you know his story, and what happened to those who rejected him.
But take yourself back in time, and really consider what it must have been like.
Would you have the courage to persevere and struggle alongside him?
Would you bear those 950 years of ridicule and rejection as he did?
The reality is that many factors were at play during the time of Nuh عليه السلام, and understanding his story provides us with profound lessons for navigating our own challenges today.
The Prophet’s Call
When you consider what the people who received Nuh’s message witnessed (clear signs, bil bayyinat, that this was a prophet of God), their rejection becomes even more perplexing. Nuh عليه السلام gave dawah strategically: in the daytime and at night, to different audiences, publicly and privately, sometimes one-on-one. He brought people simply to the message of worshipping one God, seeking forgiveness, doing righteous actions, and pondering the creation of Allah.
How did they respond?
With arrogance and mockery. They called him a liar and insane.
They insulted his followers, claiming they were “the lowliest people amongst us” (a common trope used by those who reject righteousness throughout history). Eventually, they threatened to stone him and drive him out.
Their entire worldview rested on one weak foundation:
“Our forefathers did this. You want to change our tradition, our culture?” Sound familiar?
Yet those who saw the message without worldly biases or arrogance accepted it, and yes, many of them were poor, without great political status to lose.
When Even Your Children Reject You
After 950 years of dawah, Allah informed Nuh عليه السلام that no one else from his people would believe. That’s when the command came to build the Ark. Imagine the mockery: “You’re building a boat in the middle of a place with no water? You really think that’s your salvation?”
When the sign finally came and water began emerging from the earth, Nuh عليه السلام called out:
وَقَالَ ارْكَبُوا فِيهَا بِسْمِ اللَّهِ مَجْرَاهَا وَمُرْسَاهَا ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
“Embark therein, in the Name of Allah will be its course and its anchorage. Surely, my Lord is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Quran 11:41)
But then something profoundly human and heartbreaking occurred. As the Ark sailed through waves like mountains, Nuh عليه السلام called out to his son who stood apart:
وَنَادَىٰ نُوحٌ ابْنَهُ وَكَانَ فِي مَعْزِلٍ يَا بُنَيَّ ارْكَب مَّعَنَا وَلَا تَكُن مَّعَ الْكَافِرِينَ
“O my son! Embark with us and be not with the disbelievers.” (Quran 11:42)
His son’s response reveals the false refuge people seek:
قَالَ سَآوِي إِلَىٰ جَبَلٍ يَعْصِمُنِي مِنَ الْمَاءِ
“I will betake myself to a mountain, it will save me from the water.” (Quran 11:43)
Nuh عليه السلام responded with words that form the theme of our reflection today:
قَالَ لَا عَاصِمَ الْيَوْمَ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا مَن رَّحِمَ
“There is no savior today from the Decree of Allah except him on whom He has mercy.” (Quran 11:43)
وَحَالَ بَيْنَهُمَا الْمَوْجُ فَكَانَ مِنَ الْمُغْرَقِينَ
“And waves came in between them, so he was among the drowned.” (Quran 11:43)
Where Do You Find Your Refuge?
This story isn’t just ancient history; it’s a mirror held up to our own lives. Just as the mountain could not save the son of Nuh عليه السلام from Allah’s decree, the worldly things we chase after cannot provide true refuge when it comes to ibadah, to Truth with a capital T.
So let’s examine the false mountains people climb seeking safety:
1. The Mountain of Materialism
Many people chase endless wealth, thinking it will bring happiness. But we all know (and research confirms) that money alone doesn’t guarantee tranquility or contentment. If a billion dollars doesn’t satisfy, why would two billion be the answer?
As Muslims, wealth should be a vehicle for good: for society, charity, investments, helping others, empowerment. But it’s not a refuge. The Prophet ﷺ warned us:
“If the son of Adam had a valley full of gold, he would wish for a second valley.” (Sahih Muslim 1048)
Allah warns those who think their wealth makes them invincible:
“Thinking that his wealth will make him immortal.” (Quran 104:3)
What happens when we bury the dead? Their wealth stays behind, transferred to others. You’re not taking anything except your deeds.
2. The Mountain of Social Status
In today’s world, many chase social media followings, influence, and fame—willing to lose their dignity just to go viral. Yet as has been proven time and again, fame does not guarantee happiness.
But there’s a more insidious aspect: some abuse their social status to get away with things others cannot. They hurt their families, communities, and people in the name of religion or morality, hiding under various disguises. Because they have social connections, they assume they’re invincible.
We see this play out in families where people present one face to the community and are completely different behind closed doors, abusing parents, spouses, children, relatives, and neighbors. May Allah protect us and guide us, Allahuma Ameen.
And it’s not just one type of abuse. It includes:
- Mental and emotional abuse that occurs behind closed doors
- Sexual abuse that gets swept under the rug under the guise of “not creating bigger issues”
- Financial abuse through theft or fraud
- Physical abuse of family members
The warnings in the Quran and Sunnah are explicit about the consequences of zulm (oppression):
وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ اللَّهَ غَافِلًا عَمَّا يَعْمَلُ الظَّالِمُونَ
“And never think that Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers do.” (Quran 14:42)
Oppression in any form manifests as zulumat (multiple types of darkness) on the Day of Judgment.
3. The Mountain of Trends
Many who lack a strong Islamic foundation fall for whatever is trending in society.
When a new movement sweeps campuses, dominates social media, or becomes part of popular discourse, it seems like this is where truth lies, simply because the majority are talking about it or the loudest voices are there.
But remember: the majority rejected Nuh عليه السلام. Does that mean they were upon truth?
What’s trending is not necessarily what’s good or true.
As Muslims, we must filter these philosophies and movements through an Islamic worldview. We assess and analyze rather than blindly following whatever’s popular at the time. May Allah protect us all.
4. The Mountain of Political Power
Some people love power and assume their refuge is in political status or authority. But as the Prophet ﷺ warned:
“Any man whom Allah has given the authority of ruling some people and he does not look after them in an honest manner, will never feel even the smell of Paradise.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 7150)
Any form of accountability you have in this world is accountability on the Day of Judgment.
Whether it’s responsibility with your family, at your local MSA, in your workplace, at a non-profit, or in an Islamic organization, Allah will hold you accountable for every single thing you do with that position. This is because you have the potential to impact thousands or millions of people, and you also have the ability to hurt many people.
We ask Allah to make us from amongst those who fulfill our responsibilities in a way that is pleasing to Him.
5. The Mountain of Scientific and Technological Advancement
As Muslims who have historically propelled the fields of science, medicine, psychology, mental health, and mathematics, we recognize that these are tools of discovery that Allah has given us the faculties for. Yes, we should always be at the forefront of scientific and technological advancement.
But here’s the trap: some conflate discovering how things work with no longer needing to rely on God. They fall into atheism and naturalism, thinking that because they understand mechanisms, they’re not held accountable for morality.
Science and technology will never give you objective morality, never tell you the actual purpose of life, and never assess the Quran’s miraculous nature or the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
Embracing the True Ark of Safety
All of these examples of false refuge are like the mountain that the son of Nuh عليه السلام fled to. So what does the believer do?
Embrace the Ark that you have access to: the Ark of truth. Here’s what that means practically:
1. Belief in Allah and Tawheed
Know who Allah is. Know that Islam is the truth, that Allah is the Truth, that revelation is the Truth. This is your foundation.
2. Spiritual Fulfillment Through Ibadah
Worship Allah on His terms, not ours. We worship as He commanded, and we don’t fall for the traps of Shaitan. May Allah protect us all.
3. Ihsan Towards Others and Society
Fulfill justice. As Allah promises:
وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا ۚ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمَعَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
“And those who strive for Us, We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good.” (Quran 29:69)
The reward for doing what Allah defines as good means you have an eternal reward of ihsan.
4. Finding Tranquility in Remembrance
أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ
“Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.” (Quran 13:28)
Before you chase after material things, before you prioritize what everyone else is prioritizing, find your tranquility and peace in your heart through remembrance of Allah.
5. Preparing for Tomorrow
Reflect every single day on what you’ve prepared for your meeting with Allah. We can talk about politics, election results, and strategies all day, but we cannot ignore the reality that any one of us may depart tonight. We must prepare for tomorrow—for our meeting with Allah.
6. Unity in Our Communities
As Allah makes clear in the Quran:
وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا
“And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided.” (Quran 3:103)
Stand together. Stand with the oppressed. Recognize what is true and right. When mediating between people or helping in any situation (whether at the family level, community setting, or global level), verify information, learn, understand, and hear multiple perspectives before rushing to judgment. May Allah protect us all.
7. Effective Leadership
Develop yourself as a team player rather than thinking of yourself as a dictator. Be someone who works well with others, who can compromise, who can say “I thought that’s what I was going to pursue, but I’m going to go with what this majority has decided.” Have amanah (trustworthiness) in everything you carry as a responsibility. Have trust in Allah, have iman in Allah, and let everything you do be to please Allah.
8. Protection Against the Traps of Shaitan
Ask Allah for protection against the traps of shaitan. Remember: the people who rejected Nuh’s message were the majority, yet he gave dawah for 950 years, and only 70 to 80 families or individuals accepted the message.
How can we give up when we strive for a couple of months on a strategy, or a year on a new habit, or for 10 years in dawah? How can we give up on our families or lose the optimism that believers should always have?
Take Action in Your Life Today
- Identify your false mountains: Reflect honestly on where you’re seeking refuge in your life. Is it wealth, status, trending ideologies, or power?
- Strengthen your foundation: Dedicate time daily to strengthening your connection with Allah through prayer, Quran recitation, and remembrance.
- Verify before judging: When you encounter situations requiring your input or judgment, commit to verifying information and hearing multiple perspectives.
- Never give up: Remember Nuh’s عليه السلام 950 years of dawah. Whatever challenge you’re facing, maintain hope and persistence in seeking Allah’s pleasure.
- Build community: Actively work on unity in your family and community, standing for truth and justice while avoiding division.
May Allah guide us to constantly seek true refuge in Him alone. May Allah protect us all. May Allah make us from those who are constantly seeking His help and aid. May Allah forgive us for all of our sins.
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