Khutbah at Masjid al-Nabawi on What The Prophet (PBUH) Feared For His UMMAH

Dr Mozammel Haque

 

 

Allah Subhanahu wa Taala is showing His Favours in the Qur’an by sending Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  as a giver of good news and warner and as a open sun-rays of Hidaya. Allah Subhanahu wa Taala send Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam who is very keen on the welfare of the people and he is bothered whatever affects the believers. He is very keen on our Hidaya. He is very kind and very merciful,” said Sheikh Dr. AbdulMuhsin al-Qasim in his Friday Khutbah at Masjid al-Nabawi, Madinah al-Munawwarrah, on 5 February, 2021.

 

He also mentioned, “Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam is always keen that everyone should end up in Jannah and no one should go to Jahannum. That’s why because of the concern for our welfare – for the welfare of the believers, Rasullallah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  was very much concerned about the things which will affect and undo the good deeds like showing off – Riyah, which is a small shirk that doing good deeds for the show- off or for the seeking attention of others and getting some any worldly gain from this.”

 

Speaking about Middle Path Shari’ah, Sheikh al-Qasim said, “Our Prophet Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam was always presenting Shari’ah as a balance Shari’ah and all the Day of Judgement Signs and all the trials and tribulations Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam has warned us. Our Prophet Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam in one of his sayings that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam was afraid that beyond and over and above the Fitnah of Dajjal will be the Shirk al-Asghar and Riya which means showing off the good deeds like prayers, making it good to impress others. Ulema say that if Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam    is worried after Shirk al-Asghar – small Shirk – then what about the big shirk and something which affects our belief in Oneness of Allah. So Tawheed of Allah is so delicate, so subtle that it is like a white cloth which affects smallest of the black spots.

 

The Imam of the Masjid al-Nabawi said, “The Shirk should be avoided in all forms and shapes. Shari’ah of Islam is the last Shari’ah, so the special quality of Shari’ah is to be easy, to be practical and it is complete as Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam has said that I have been sent with the balance and the middle path Shari’ah – Shamha – very generous. That’s why Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam sometimes wanted to do good things but he will refrain from doing it so the people followed him and then it becomes Farj; it becomes necessary for the people and then they cannot do it and then it would be problem.

 

Mentioning about lowering the burden of prayers of 50, Sheikh al-Qasim said, “Like Saiyyidena Aishah Radhiallahu Anha says that in the Hadith of Mi’raj that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam kept on asking for concessions and lowering the burden of prayers of 50 till it became five but the reward is fifty. Similarly, Saiyyidena Ai’shah Radhiallahu Anha said like Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam after praying Taraweeh for few nights; then he stopped praying Taraweeh with the public; although  people were very keen and then he mentioned it next day that I did not come out for Taraweeh because I saw your keenness and I was afraid that it may be made Farj and compulsory on you and then it would be fitnah issue for you.”

 

The Prophet never prayed after Asr prayer. The Imam of the Masjid al-Nabawi mentioned another Hadith. He said, “Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam would not do any action; any good deed which will over-burden other people. Like prayer after Asr – Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam would never pray after Asr to over-burden his Ummah. Another saying from Saiyyidena Ai’shah Radhiallahu Anha is that the principle was that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam if he was given options between two choices – he will choose only the easiest option unless it was a sinful activity. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam would never choose the sinful activity. But he will choose between two permitted things – the easiest thing.”

 

Sheikh al-Qasim said, “All the things which increase people to be successful on the Day of Judgement Allah and Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam did encourage. So one of the  avenues of Zakat expenditure is new Muslims or people  of whom Islam is hoped for. So Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam bears on non-Muslims thing which will attract him towards Islam and Muslims and he will give them so generously that really people appreciated and became Muslims. Similarly, Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  refrained from re-building Ka’abah because of fitnah after the Fatah Makkah and it is very very clearly mentioned in the report.

 

The Imam of the Masjid al-Nabawi also mentioned another Hadith. He said, “Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam warned us the prosperity and abundance of duniya because duniya and the Maal and all the things which is a matter of competition and fighting over. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam was afraid for his Ummah; like he said ‘I am not afraid of poverty for you but I am afraid of having prosperity and then fighting over each other for the access of worldly things’. So it will be fitnah and it would be reason for destruction and losing on the Day of Judgement. Like people before us have done this.”

 

Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam was concerned with the trials and tribulations which affects human beings everyday from now and then.  Sheikh al-Qasim mentioned another Hadith. He said, “Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam has said that there are so much fitnah that it is like a rain-water, continuous one after another; there is a fitnah in the life and fitnah after death; fitnah which are trials and tribulations, which are hidden; trials and tribulations which are very very apparent, trials and tribulations which are like a forceful storm fro the sea. So Rasuluillah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam encourages us to seek refuge, seek protection from fitnah all types of trials and tribulations we should ask. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam Naujubillah from Fitnah – O Allah, we seek Your help to protect us from all those trials and tribulations.”

 

Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam warns about Masiad Dajjal, said the Imam of the Masjid al-Nabawi and added, “About Dajjal who will be very well-built and in the highest built person among the human beings and he will come out and people will afraid of him; people will run away from Dajjal, towards the mountains and away from the city areas. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam even contemplated that if Dajjal comes when Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam alive, then Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam will fight him off. But, then, if Dajjal comes after Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam has passed away; then everyone would have to fight for themselves. There are other people who also lead people astray; those who make non-Islamic things as a very very attractive and Islamic, confusing people with truth and with falsehood.”

 

Beyond Dajjal, Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  warns us that there are other people who are misleading the Ummah. Sheikh al-Qasim said, “Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam named them that those people the leaders who are assertive and who lead people astray in the name of leading them to truth. So mixing the truth with the falsehood. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam said that say I believe in Allah and be steadfast and then one thing was that he was afraid of the tongue. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam    holds his tongue that I am afraid of this tongue which will be biggest harm to my Ummah.”

 

Sheikh al-Qasim mentioned, “One of the things which Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam was concerned about any punishment or any harsh situations whenever the colour of the sky becomes change – red or something then Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam will get very very anxious and he will go in and out and will seek refuge like one of the nations previously who took the Azaab – the punishment the punishing sky and the clouds as a good omen. But it was a punishment for that people. As Allah Subhanahu wa Taala said that false gods have misled and led us astray many people in the humanity and as Isa Alayhi Salam said: ‘O Allah, if You punish Your servant, they are Your Servant, but if You forgive them, You are All-Powerful.’”

 

The Imam of the Masjid al-Nabawi said, “One night Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam was all night crying with this Ayat of Isa Alayhi Salam – then Allah Subhanahu wa Taala sent Jibrail Alayhi Salam to reassure Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam about the fate of the Ummah of Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam that Allah will not disappoint Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  about his Ummah. On the Day of Judgement, Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  has reported that he will not raise his head from Saijdah before Allah Subhanahu wa Taala promises the good treatment of his Ummah.on the Day of Judgement, Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam was on the bridge he will be praying for the safety of his Ummah. As Allah Subhanahu wa Taala urges us leave away all the sinful activities whether it is apparent or whether it is hidden sin.”

 

Sheikh al-Qasim mentioned, “Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam urges his Ummah that please take heed and hold fast the footsteps of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam and his deputies his Khulafah-e Rashedeen. Allah Subhanahu wa Taala says that to follow the Commandents of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala and the Sunnah of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam and the duty of Rasulullah is to convey the Message properly. So I seek refuge from the bad effects of our deeds and I seek forgiveness from Allah Subhanahu wa Taala. O Muslims please ask for forgiveness Allah is very Oft-Forgiving.”

 

Full Khutbah at Masjid al-Nabawi

Followings are the full khutbah at the Masjid al-Nabawi, Madinah al-Munawwarrah,  delivered by Sheikh Dr. Abdul Muhsin al-Qasim on 5 February, 2021, [rendered into English by Mufti Barkatullah @ Islam Channel, UK]

 

“All praise belongs to Allah. We seek help and forgiveness from Allah and from the bad effects of all our misdeeds. Those whom Allah guides none can lead him astray and those who lead astray no one can guide. I bear witness that no one is worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger and His servant.

 

“After praising Allah, let us remind ourselves to be afraid of Allah, to observe Taqwa as we should have observed Taqwa and hold to the basics of Islam. Allah Subhanahu wa Taala is showing His Favours in the Qur’an by sending Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam as a giver of good news and warner and as a open sun-rays of Hidaya. Allah Subhanahu wa Taala send Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam who is very keen on the welfare of the people and he is bothered whatever affects the believers. He is very keen on our Hidaya. He is very kind and very merciful.

 

“Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam is always keen that everyone should end up in Jannah and no one should go to Jahannum. That’s why because of the concern for our welfare – for the welfare of the believers, Rasullallah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam was very much concerned about the things which will affect and undo the good deeds like showing off – Riya, which is a small shirk that doing good deeds for the show- off or for the seeking attention of others and getting some any worldly gain from this.

 

“Our Prophet Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam was always presenting Shari’ah as a balance Shari’ah and all the Day of Judgement Signs and all the trials and tribulations Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam has warned us. Our Prophet Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam in one of his sayings that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam    was afraid that beyond and over and above the Fitnah of Dajjal will be the Shirk al-Asghar and Riya which means showing off the good deeds like prayers, making it good to impress others. Ulema say that if Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam    is worried after Shirk al-Asghar – small Shirk – then what about the big shirk and something which affects our belief in Oneness of Allah. So Tawheed of Allah is so delicate, so subtle that it is like a white cloth which affects smallest of the black spots.

 

“The Shirk should be avoided in all forms and shapes. Shari’ah of Islam is the last Shari’ah, so the special quality of Shari’ah is to be easy, to be practical and it is complete as Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam has said that I have been sent with the balance and the middle path Shari’ah – Shamha – very generous. That’s why Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam sometimes wanted to do good things but he will refrain from doing it so the people followed him and then it becomes Farj; it becomes necessary for the people and then they cannot do it and then it would be problem.

 

“Like Sayyidina Aishah Radhiallahu Anha says that in the Hadith of Mi’raj that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam kept on asking for concessions and lowering the burden of prayers of 50 till it became five but the reward is fifty. Similarly, Sayyidina Ai’shah Radhiallahu Anha said like Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam after praying Taraweeh for few nights; then he stopped praying Taraweeh with the public; although people were very keen and then he mentioned it next day that I did not come out for Taraweeh because I saw your keenness and I was afraid that it may be made Farj and compulsory on you and then it would be fitnah issue for you.

 

“Similarly, Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam would not do any action; any good deed which will over-burden other people. Like prayer after Asr – Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam would never pray after Asr to over-burden his Ummah. Another saying from Sayyidina Ai’shah Radhiallahu Anha is that the principle was that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam if he was given options between two choices – he will choose only the easiest option unless it was a sinful activity. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam would never choose the sinful activity. But he will choose between two permitted things – the easiest thing.

 

“All the things which increase people to be successful on the Day of Judgement Allah and Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam did encourage. So one of the avenues of Zakat expenditure is new Muslims or people of whom Islam is hoped for. So Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam bears on non-Muslims thing which will attract him towards Islam and Muslims and he will give them so generously that really people appreciated and became Muslims. Similarly, Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam refrained from re-building Ka’abah because of fitnah after the Fatah Makkah and it is very very clearly mentioned in the report.

 

“Among the things which Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam    warned us the prosperity and abundance of duniya because duniya and the Maal and all the things which is a matter of competition and fighting over. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam was afraid for his Ummah; like he said ‘I am not afraid of poverty for you but I am afraid of having prosperity and then fighting over each other for the access of worldly things. So it will be fitnah and it would be reason for destruction and losing on the Day of Judgement. Like people before us have done this.

 

“Similarly, Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam was concerned with the trials and tribulations which affects human beings everyday from now and then.  Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  has said that there are so much fitnah that it is like a rain-water, continuous one after another; there is a fitnah in the life and fitnah after death; fitnah which are trials and tribulations, which are hidden; trials and tribulations which are very very apparent, trials and tribulations which are like a forceful storm fro the sea. So Rasuluillah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  encourages us to seek refuge, seek protection fro fitnah all types of trials and tribulations we should ask. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam    Naujubillah from Fitnah – O Allah, we seek Your help to protect us from all those trials and tribulations.

 

“Similarly, Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  warns about Masihid Dajjal. About Dajjal who will be very well-built and in the highest built person among the human beings and he will come out and people will afraid of him; people will run away from Dajjal, towards the mountains and away from the city areas. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam even contemplated that if Dajjal comes when Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  alive, then Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  will fight him off. But, then, if Dajjal comes after Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam has passed away; then everyone would have to fight for themselves. So there are other people who also lead people astray; those who make non-Islamic things as a very very attractive and Islamic, confusing people with truth and with falsehood.

 

“Beyond Dajjal, Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam warns us that there are other people who are misleading the Ummah. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  named them that those people, the leaders who are assertive and who lead people astray in the name of leading them to truth; mixing the truth with the falsehood. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam said that say: ‘I believe in Allah and be steadfast and then one thing was that he was afraid of the tongue. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam holds his tongue that I am afraid of this tongue which will be biggest fitnah to my Ummah.

 

“One of the things which Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam was concerned about any punishment or any harsh situations whenever the colour of the sky becomes change – red or something then Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam will get very very anxious and he will go in and out and will seek refuge like one of the nations previously who took the Azaab – the punishment, the punishing sky and the clouds, as a good omen. But it was a punishment for that people. As Allah Subhanahu wa Taala said that false gods have misled and led us astray many people in the humanity and as Isa Alayhi Salam said: ‘O Allah, if You punish Your servant, they are Your Servant, but if You forgive them, You are All-Powerful.

 

“One night Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam was whole night crying with this Ayat of Isa Alayhi wa Salam – then Allah Subhanahu wa Taala sent Jibrail Alayhi wa Salam to reassure Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam about the fate of the Ummah of Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  that Allah will not disappoint Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam about his Ummah. On the Day of Judgement, Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam has reported that he will not raise his head from Sajdah before Allah Subhanahu wa Taala promises the good treatment of his Ummah. On the Day of Judgement, Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam was on the bridge, he will be praying for the safety of his Ummah. As Allah Subhanahu wa Taala urges us to leave away all the sinful activities whether it is apparent or whether it is hidden sin.

 

Among the urgings of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam that he urges his Ummah that please take heed and hold fast the footsteps of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam and his deputies his Khulafahe Rashedeen. Allah Subhanahu wa Taala says that you should follow the Commandments of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala and the Sunnah of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam and the duty of Rasulullah is to convey the Message properly. So I seek refuge from the bad effects of our deeds and I seek forgiveness from Allah Subhanahu wa Taala. O Muslims please ask for forgiveness Allah is very Oft-Forgiving.

 

Second Half

Thanks Allah Subhanahu wa Taala for His Favour and I bear witness that no one is worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam is His Messenger and His servant. May Allah send peace and blessings on Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam, his family and his companions. Allah Subhanahu wa Taala has said that today I have completed Your Deen and I complete My Favours so we are to ask Allah Subhanahu wa Taala always to keep us on the Straight Path like in Suratul Fatiha we ask.

 

Following the commandments of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala and the Sunnah of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam is the proper guidance like Allah Subhanahu wa Taala says that if you follow the Commandments of Allah and Sunnah of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam you will be successful.

 

So let us pray and send peace and blessings as Allah Subhanahu wa Taala has commanded us. O Allah, send peace and blessings on Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  as you have sent peace and blessings on Ibrahim Alayhi Salam and his family. May Allah send peace and blessings on Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  and his deputy Khulafah-e Rashideen and followers.

 

Dua and Supplication

O Allah, give prominence to Islam and Muslims and destroy the enemies of Islam. O Allah, make this land, the land of peace and tranquillity and all the Muslim lands. O Allah, give goodness in this world and Hereafter and save us from the torments of the Day of Judgement. O Allah, we are dependent on You. O Allah, send us rain as a mercy. O Allah, give us rain. O Allah, listen to our plea for the rain. O Allah, if You don’t forgive us, we will be losers. O Allah, empower our rulers and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and his deputies to work for the betterment of the country and for the betterment of the people.

 

Allah Orders you to do good and refrain from bad and join relationship. May we take heed. Let us take heed and thank Allah Subhanahu wa Taala to increase His Favour and Allah’s Decrees is the highest and Allah knows what  He do.

 

Acknowledgement

Courtesy: @Islam Channel, U.K.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Khutbah at Masjid al-Haram On Day of Judgement

Dr Mozammel Haque

 

Imam of the Masjid al-Haram, Makkah al-Mukarramah, Sheikh Dr. Mahir al-Mu’aigily gave Khutbah on the Day of Judgement in his Friday Khutbah on 5 February, 2021. He said, “The Day of Qiyamah and the Day of Judgement is the harshest and the most frightening day, one can imagine. Allah says that when the trumpet would be blown everyone would die and then another trumpet would be blown and then everyone would be alive and looking. On that Day everyone will have different situations, some would be happy, some would be sad, some would be having their Book of Deeds on their right and some would be on their left. For many all the people would be taken through the vision of Jahannum and those who have Book of Deeds on their right hand, they would be happy; they will say, Look; at my Book of Deeds. I was expecting to receive and then he will be happy and he will be returning to his family with the good tidings. But those who would be given their Books of Deeds on their left hand, they will be the losers; they will say if I had not known of my Book of Deeds, it would have been good and I nothing me benefitted.”

 

Sheikh Dr. Mahir al-Mu’aigily mentioned, “For the measurement of action, weighing of the action is one of the part of the belief that on the Day of Judgement, all our actions, intangible deeds will be given as physical weight as Allah Subhanahu wa Taala says that on the Day of Judgement, We will establish the measurement and weighting mechanism and all the actions will be measured and weighted.”

 

Sheikh al-Mu’aigily said, “On the Day of Judgement, as it is reported in the Hadith of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam    in Muslim and Imam Ahmad that a person would be put for measurement and his Book of Deeds and his measurement will be not sufficient; so Angels will start taking him towards Jahannum, then someone will shout; wait, wait – don’t hurry – there are something which are being left. So paper would be brought his testimony, his Kalima and his Shahadah and that would be sufficient for him to get him rescued from the Jahannum.”

 

The Imam of the Masjid al-Haram mentioned, “Story goes that Abdullah ibn Mas’ud Radhiallahu Anhu was very thin and his feet were very very thin and he was a servant of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  . One day his feet were exposed because of the wind and people laughed at him and then Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  said that these feet are very heavy on the Day of Judgement, InshaAllah. Everyone of us has to face the measurement and weighing of our Deeds – good and bad deeds against ourselves. So every single person will have to face this and each passing and selling successful and unsuccessful through the measurement system. His name would be announced on the Day of Judgement.”

 

Sheikh al-Mu’aigily also mentioned, “Saiyidena Aisha Radhiallahu Anha reported that she was crying and Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  said why you are crying. She said I am afraid of the Day of Judgement. Ya Rasulullah, would anybody remember their families? Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  said: no, at three places on the Day of Judgement no one remembers anybody and no one will think of about except himself. At the time of the measurement and weighing of their good deeds against bad deeds and then second time, when the Book of Deeds  would be given to them as a record from the right hand or left hand or at the back of them or at the time when the people would be going over Jahannum.”

 

The Imam of the Masjid al-Haram said, “One of the companions of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  requested Rasullulah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  to intercede for him and Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  said, yes, I would do that for you. And the companion asked, Ya Rasulullah, on the Day of Judgement, how would I find? Where should I look for you? So Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  said that look for me on the bridge over the Jahannum or look for me at the time of the weighing of good deeds against the bad deeds and otherwise, just look for me at the corner of my Hawze Kawsar – the Pond of Abundance - from where every Muslim will drink. You will not miss me there.”

 

Sheikh al-Mu’aigily also mentioned, “So the heaviest weight on the Day of Judgement for our actions would be the good manners, the good treatment of others and presenting ourselves with the most highest moral character; because the high moral character  equals fasting and praying all the time. On the Day of Judgement, nothing would be over-weighing the good  deeds as a matter of good deeds as a high moral character. Among the things which would be weighting on the Day of Judgement in the measurement on the scale will be visiting sick and following the Janaza and following the funeral prayers. As Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  has said that those who come for Janaza prayers they get one Qirat and when those people who witness the burial places, then they get double Qirat – two Qirats. And Qirat was explained as the weight of over the mountain.”

 

“Similarly, mentioning the name of Allah – Subhanallah Alhamdolillah wa La Ilaha Illallah Allahu Akbar they are very heavy on the Day of Judgement in the scale and in the weighting of the scale. And similarly, Subhanallahi Behamdihi and Subhanallah hil Azim They are light on tongue but heavy on the Day of Judgement and loved by Allah Subhanahu wa Taala,” he mentioned.

 

The Imam of the Masjid al-Haram also said, “There is another incident Juwayriya bint al-Harith Ummehatul Mumeneen Radhiallahu Anha that she was saying the Zikr from Fajr till Salatuz Zuha – just like Midday, then Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  when he saw her busy with Zikr Allah; Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  told her that after I left you I just said few words which will overweigh all you have said – Subhanallahe Behamdihi Adada Khalkihi, wa Jinata Arsihi or wa Redha Nafsihi. When we say O Allah, glory be to You, the number of all the creations which are there and your glory will be Subhanallah – to the number of all the weights of the Arsh the throne and all the humanity. So this would be heavy on the Day of Judgement.”

 

Sheikh al-Mu’aigily said, “Those who do injustice to the Qur’an and to the Signs of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala they would be the losers on that Day. I say this and hope that we benefit from this. May Allah forgive us and let us seek forgiveness from Him – the All-Forgiving.”

 

The Imam of the Masjid al-Haram said, “Our belief in the scale and the measurement of our Deeds and actions, intangible deeds and actions is one of the Signs of Justice of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala that little actions are heavy and sometimes big actions are very little on the Day of Judgement. So the qualitative assessment and the scale of weighing the intangible deeds is one of the fine justices which will be administered on the Day of Judgement.”

 

Sheikh al-Mu’aigily mentioned, “This measurement of justice is very well illustrated with the people who will be changing between Jannah and Jahannum in the A’araf in the high place whose good deeds and bad deeds are equal they just need one good deed to give them, they will wait for one good deed to keep their balance of measurement. So they would be able to see the people of Jahannum and they would would the able to see the people of Jannah from the right and the left. They would be all waiting as Allah Subhanahu wa Taala has mentioned in the Suratul al-A’araf. Based  on this Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  has said that don’t belittle any single good deed even if you meet your brother with the smiling face. On the Day of Judgement some people will have very little weight and some people actions will be heavy weight on that Day, the blazing fire will affect us and we wish we have done good deeds all the time, every time, small and big; just displaying displeasure when somebody meet is one of the bad deeds which we will regret ourselves.”

 

The Imam of the Masjid al-Haram also mentioned another Hadith. He said, “Our Prophet Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  one day quizzed Sahabahs that who is skinned or people who do not have any thing, Mukhlish; so people thought the Mukhlish is those who do not have any worldly possessions. So Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  said: no; the Mukhlish on the Day of Judgement will be those people who  have done and bring lots of good deeds in terms of prayer and sadaqah but then their bad behaviour – their shouting at others, their swearing at others, abusing others – would overtake all their good deeds and then they would be left with the deficit of other peoples’ sins; because if their good deeds will fall short of the compensation for the others, then they will be thrown into the Jahannum by the weight of the bad deeds of others; so bad deeds of others will be exchanged for into his Book of Deeds.”

 

Sheikh Dr. al-Mu’aigily said, “Very famous quotations from Saiyidina Omar ibn Al-Khattab Radhiallahu Anhu that please take your account before you are judged against your own deeds. Do the Muraqabah and taking daily account of your good deeds and bad deeds and try to balance your account every day. General obedience and general adherence to the rules of health and the administrative things – the administrative guidance is one of the good deeds we should adhere to this these days to minimise the infection, minimise the spread of infections nowadays.”

 

Full Khutbah at Masjid al-Haram

Followings are the full khutbah at the Masjid al-Haram, Makkah al-Mukarramah,  delivered by Sheikh Dr. Mahir al-Mu’aigily on 5 February, 2021, [rendered into English by Mufti Barkatullah @ Islam Channel, UK]

 

“Indeed All Praise belongs to Allah; Allah is all-encompassing; All-Knowing . He created and He guided. Saviours is continuously reigning on humanity. I pray and thank Allah and I bear witness that there is no one worthy of worship except Allah Subhanahu wa Taala. Those who follow the Commandments of Allah they are successful and those who keep away from the remembrance of Allah they are the losers. And I bear witness that Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  is His Messenger and His servant. May Allah send peace and blessings on him, his family and his companions and those who follow the footsteps of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam. May Allah send salam and peace. I urge myself and you to observe Taqwa because Taqwa is success and salvation. Those who observe Taqwa they are successful and those who are lenient they are the losers. So as Allah Subhanahu wa Taala says that the afraid of the  Day you are going to return towards Allah.

 

“The Day of Qiyamah and the Day of Judgement is the harshest and the most frightening day, one can imagine. Allah says that when the trumpet would be blown everyone would die and then another trumpet would be blown and then everyone would be alive and looking. On that Day everyone will have different situations, some would be happy, some would be sad, some would be having their Book of Deeds on their right and some would be on their left. For many all the people would be taken through the vision of Jahannum and those who have Book of Deeds on their right hand, they would be happy; they will say, Look; at my Book of Deeds. I was expecting to receive and then he will be happy and he will be returning to his family with the good tidings. But those who would be given their Books of Deeds on their left hand, they will be the losers; they will say if I had not known of my Book of Deeds, it would have been good and I nothing benefitted me.

 

“For the measurement of actions, weighing of the actions is one of the part of the belief that on the Day of Judgement, all our actions intangible deeds will be given as physical weight as Allah Subhanahu wa Taala says that on the Day of Judgement, We will establish the measurement and weighting mechanism and all the actions will be measured and weighted.

 

“On the Day of Judgement, as it is reported in the Hadith of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam    in Muslim and Imam Ahmed that a person would be put for measurement and his Book of Deeds and his measurement will be not sufficient; so Angels will start taking him towards Jahannum, then someone will shout; wait, wait – don’t hurry – there are somethings which are being left. So paper would be brought his testimony, his Kalima and his Shahadah and that would be sufficient for him to get him rescued from the Jahannum.

 

“Story goes that Abdullah ibn Mas’ud Radhiallahu Anhu was very thin and his feet were very very thin and he was a servant of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam. One day his feet were exposed because of the wind and people laughed at him and then Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  said that these feet are very heavy on the Day of Judgement, InshaAllah.

 

“Everyone of us has to face the measurement and weighing of our Deeds – good and bad deeds against ourselves. So every single person will have to face this and each passing and selling successful and unsuccessful through the measurement system. His name would be announced on the Day of Judgement.

 

“Saiyidena Aisha Radhiallahu Anha reported that she was crying and Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam said why you are crying. She said I am afraid of the Day of Judgement. Ya Rasulullah, would anybody remember their families? Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam said: no, at three places on the Day of Judgement no one remember anybody and no one will think of about except himself. At the time of the measurement and weighing of their good deeds against bad deeds and then second time, when the Book of Deeds  would be given to them as a record from the right hand or left hand or at the back of them or at the time when the people would be going over Jahannum.

 

“One of the companions of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  requested Rasullulah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  to intercede for him and Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  said, yes, I would do that for you. And the companion asked, Ya Rasulullah, on the Day of Judgement, how would I find? Where should I look for you? So Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  said that look for me on the bridge over the Jahannum or look for me at the time of the weighing of good deeds against the bad deeds and otherwise, just look for me at the corner of my Hous-e Kawser – the Pond from where every Muslim will drink. You will not miss me there.

 

“So the heaviest weight on the Day of Judgement for our actions would be the good manners, the good treatment of others and presenting ourselves with the most highest moral character; because the high moral character  equals fasting and praying all the time. On the Day of Judgement, nothing would be over-weighing the good  deeds as a matter of good deeds as a high moral character. Among the things which would be weighting on the Day of Judgement in the measurement on the scale will be visiting sick and following the Janaza and following the funeral prayers. As Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  has said that those who come for Janaza prayers they get one Qirat and when those people who witness the burial places, then they get double Qirat – two Qirats. And Qirat was explained as the weight of over the mountain.

 

“Similarly, mentioning the name of Allah – Subhanallah Alhamdolillah wa La Ilaha Illalla Allahu Akbar they are very heavy on the Day of Judgement in the scale and in the weighting of the scale. And similarly, Subhanallah Behamdihi and Subhanallah hil Azim They are light on tongue but heavy on the Day of Judgement and loved by Allah Subhanahu wa Taala.

 

“There is another incident Juwayriya bint al-Harith Ummehatul Mumenin Radhiallahu Anha that she was saying the Zikr from Fajr till Salatuz Zuha – just like Midday, then Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  when he saw her busy with Zikr Allah; Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  told her that after I left you just said few words which will overweigh all you have said – Subhanallahe Behamdihi Adada Khalkihi, wa Jinata Arsihi wa Redha Nafsihi. When we say O Allah, glory be to You, the number of all the creations which are there and your glory will be Subhanallah – to the number of all the weights of the Arsh the throne and all the humanity. So this would be heavy on the Day of Judgement.

 

“Those who do injustice to the Qur’an and to the Signs of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala they would be the losers on that Day. I say this and hope that we benefit from this. May Allah forgive us and let us seek forgiveness from Him – the All-Forgiving.

 

Second Half

“Thank Allah and we praise Allah who give us empower us to be able to obtain higher moral standard and perform highly and I bear witness that there is no one worthy of worship except Allah Subhanahu wa Taala and That Muhammad is His Messenger and servant. May Allah send peace and blessing on Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  his family, his companions and his followers.

 

“Our belief in the scale and the measurement of our Deeds and actions, intangible deeds and actions is one of the Signs of Justice of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala that little actions are heavy and sometimes big actions are very little on the Day of Judgement. So the qualitative assessment and the scale of weighing the intangible deeds is one of the fine justices which will be administered on the Day of Judgement.

 

“This measure of justice is very well illustrated with the people who will be changing between Jannah and Jahannum in the A’araf in the high place whose good deeds and bad deeds are equal they just need one good deed to give them, they will wait for one good deed to keep their balance of measurement. So they would be able to see the people of Jahannum and they would be able to see the people of Jannah from the right and the left. They would be all waiting as Allah Subhanahu wa Taala has mentioned in the Suratul al-A’araf. Based  on this Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  has said that don’t belittle any single good deed even if you meet your brother with the smiling face. On the Day of Judgement some people will have very little weight and some people actions will be heavy weight on that Day, the blazing fire will affect us and we wish we have done good deeds all the time, every time, small and big; just displaying displeasure when somebody meet is one of the bad deeds which we will regret ourselves.

 

“Our Prophet Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  one day quizzed sahabahs that who is skinned or people who do not have any thing, Mukhlish; so people thought the Mukhlish is those who do not have any worldly possessions. So Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  said: no; the Mukhlish on the Day of Judgement will be those people who  have done and bring lots of good deeds in terms of prayer and sadaqah but then their bad behaviour – their shouting at others, their swearing at others, abusing others – would overtake all their good deeds and then they would be left with the deficit of other peoples’ sins; because if their good deeds will fall short of the compensation for the others, then they will be thrown into the Jahannum by the weight of the bad deeds of others; so bad deeds of others will be exchanged for into his Book of Deeds.

 

“Very famous quotations from Saiyidina Omar ibn Al-Khattab Radhiallahu Anhu that please take your account before you are judged against your own deeds. Do the Muraqabah and taking daily account of your good deeds and bad deeds and try to balance your account every day. General obedience and general adherence to the rules of health and the administrative things – the administrative guidance is one of the good deeds we should adhere to this these days to minimise the infection, minimise the spread of infections nowadays.”

 

Dua and Supplication

The Imam of the Masjid al-Haram, Sheikh Dr. Mahir Al-Mu’aigily started making dua: “O Allah, we seek Your Forgiveness; we seek Your mercy. O Allah, forgive all our sins. O Allah, give us our good deeds heavy on the Day of Judgement; make our Book of Deeds in our right hands. O Allah, send peace and blessings upon Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  like You have sent peace and blessings upon Ibrahim AS and his family. Give barakah on Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihey wa Sallam  and his family like you have done with Ibrahim AS and his family. O Allah, be pleased with all the Khulafah-e Rashedeen – Abu Bakr, Omar, Osman and Ali – Radhiallahu Anhu and all the other companions.

 

“O Allah, forgive us – all our sins with Your Bounty and with Your generosity. O Allah grant prominence to Islam and Muslims and the religion of Islam. O Allah, make the lands of Islam and Muslims, the lands of peace and tranquillity. O Allah, we ask You to deliver us from all the pandemic and all the sources of Fitnah and interest money and all types of pandemic and infections and illness. O Allah, we seek refuge from all the accidents and bad results – all the harmful things which we know immediate imminent and or in future. O Allah, save us from all the torments of this world and the Hereafter.

 

“O Allah, we ask You to grant us Jannah and all the actions which lead to Jannah. O Allah, we seek refuge from Jahannum and all  the actions which lead us to Jahannum. O Allah, give us peace in this world and the Hereafter. O Allah, give Shifa – recovery to all our ill people and Maqfirah to all the people who have passed away during this pandemic time.

 

“O Allah, give and empower our rulers, our King and his associates to do best for the public and the country. O Allah, empower us to do whatever You pleases with and save us from anything which displeases You. O Allah, save those people who are working for the security of our border places. O Allah, there is no one worthy of worship except You. O Allah, accept all our repentance and our returning to You. O Allah, accept all our dua and guide us towards Islam and obedience of Your Commandments. O Allah, we have wronged ourselves and if You do not forgive us, we will be among the losers.

 

“O Allah, forgive us and all the Muslim believers who have passed before us and do not make any rancour in our hearts. O Allah, give us goodness in this world and the Hereafter and save us from the torments of the fire punishment. Peace be upon the Messengers and at the end all the praise belongs to Allah Subhanahu wa Taala,” the Imam concluded his Khutbah.

 

Acknowledgement

Courtesy: @Islam Channel, U.K.

 

 

 

 

 

US Elections 2020 Good Luck President Joe Biden

 Dr. Mozammel Haque

 

 

“Despite Mr. Trump’s efforts, America’s Constitutional arrangement worked. The election was held, the votes were counted, challenges were heard. Many of the Judges that heard allegations of fraud were Republican appointees, some even appointed by Mr. Trump. Many of the executives and legislatures in states whose results Mr Trump disputed were Republican-led. Each of America’s institutions played their allotted role. As a result Mr. Biden and Senator Kamala Harris will be legitimately sworn in as president and vice-president,” wrote The Times editorially on 10^th of January 2021.

 

Joseph Biden was sworn in on Thursday, 21^st of January 2021 in a scaled down ceremony due to coronavirus and Capitol Hill attack by the supporters of former President Donald Trump on 6 January 2021. Biden proves perseverance brought success ultimately. He achieves his long sought goal diverse America, diverse administration but in a deeply divided, fractured  nation.

 

Joe Biden is the first President to be the oldest President of the United States of America at the age of 78 after being tried 36 years as Senator and two terms Vice-President.  He is the second Catholic after the first Catholic President John F. Kennedy.

 

Congratulations to the 46^th President

of the United States: Joseph  Biden

Joe Biden has been elected as the 46^th President of the United States. Mr Biden won the presidential election with 306 votes in the Electoral College – the system the US uses to elect a president – to Mr Trump’s 232. The College met on 14 December 2020 to formalise the outcome. Under the US Constitution Mr Biden took office as 46^th President on 20 January 2021 regardless of whether Trump admits defeat.

 

But Mr. Trump has challenged throughout the election that the increase in postal ballots had led to widespread fraud, but there was no evidence of this. Trump piled up dozens of failed election results, as US Attorney General William Barr said: “his Justice Department has found no evidence of Donald Trump’s widespread claim of voting frauds in the 2020 elections.”

 

This 2020 U.S. Election

Unprecedented in US History

The US Election 2020 is unprecedented in many ways:

Firstly, the 2020 Presidential election was the first in history in which people voted before election day than on it. 2020 Presidential Election, pitting Joe Biden against Donald Trump was the first in history in which more people voted before election day than on it. “In the midst of pandemic, more than 94 millions Americans had already cast their ballots by yesterday 2020, a record for early voting. It was equivalent to 70% of the 2016 turnout even before the Election Day dawn (Guardian reported on 3 November).

 

On the eve of the election, Mr Biden leads nationally by 7.5.points according to Financial Times analysis of polling data compiled. (Financial Times, 3 November, 2020) According to the US Election Project, which tracks voting, more than 95 million Americans, 69 per cent of the total number cast in 2016 have already voted.

 

The US is poised to record its biggest election turnout in recent memory, according to political scientists and election lawyers, allaying fears the pandemic would discourage a significant percentage of people from voting.

 

Historic early voting nearly 100 million ballots cast before election by Danny Dougherty. In 2016, 47 million Americans cast ballots before Elect Day. (2020 turnout is on pace to brak century-old records). At least 101.9 million voted early nationwide. By Oct 22 of 2020 that record was broken, and by Nov. 3, it was shattered. (Reported in Washington Post, 8 November 2020).

 

Secondly, it is also the first American election in which the incumbent President has said he will try to stop the vote count if early returns on election might show him to be ahead, and has openly encouraged acts of intimidation by his supporters.

 

Thirdly, 2020 elections show the biggest turnout in recent memory, according to political scientists and election lawyers.

 

Fourthly, Nature of US 2020 elections, “The last-minute jockeying reflected an alarming feature of this year’s presidential campaign: Rather than an orderly process to arrange the peaceful maintenance or transfer of power, the nation has spent the past several days preparing  for decades, with property owners across the country boarding up storefront windows against fears of civil unrest, law enforcement agencies going on high alert to prevent polling place disruptions and frequent threats from Trump call the legitimacy of elections,” said The Washington Post on 5^th of November 2020.

 

Fifthly, this election is shaping up to be a historic for Biden, the first time an incumbent president has been defeated in 28 years. Biden has already broken Barack Obama’s record for votes received by a presidential candidate (69.5 million) with many ballots yet to be counted – in the highest turnout election in 120 years.

 

Biden overcame some of the dirtiest tricks ever used: Laws and lawsuits to black democratic voters from voting or their ballots getting counted dark-web disinformation, mysterious robocalls, sabotage of the postal service and using the justice department as an arm of Presidential campaign.

 

 

Joe Biden’s President-elect –

Amninistrative priorities and Administrative Team

Biden website now in priorities’ for the incoming presidency – Covid-19, economic recovery, racial equality and climate change.’

 

First-ever in American Democracy

Biden’s planned nominations have included historic first for women and racial minorities

 

Biden’s Diverse Administration

1. First female Vice-President – Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris is the first Black and South Asian Vice president, and the first woman to hold that office. Harris, senator from California, make history as the first woman; first Black person and the first person of South Asian descent to become Vice President.

a) First female Black Vice President

b) First Female Vice President of Asian Heritage

c) First woman Black South-African Vice-President

 

2. First Black American Defence Secretary

First Black person to head the Pentagon; Joe Biden  taps retired army general Lloyd Austin as his Defence Secretary. Joe Biden nominates African-American to hold the post of Defence Secretary of State subject to confirmation by the Congress and Senate.

General Austin Lloyd served in the U.S. Army for more than 40 years.

 

3. First female Treasury Secretary of State Janet Yellen

Joe Biden appointed First female Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen; First woman to lead the Central Bank. Janet Yellen was the first woman to lead the Federal Reserve, if confirmed she would become the first person to have headed the Treasury, then the Central Bank.

 

4. First Secretary of State

Antony Blinken

 

5.  First woman of colour to run the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Joe Biden appointed first woman of colour Neera Tanden to run the Office of Management and Budget.

 

6.  First Latino Xivier Becerra  Secretary of State for Health

Joe Biden appointed First Latino Xivier Becerra, California’s Attorney General to become the Secretary of State for Health.

 

7. First ever Native American Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deb Haaland

Joe Biden appointed Ms Haaland, one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress,  would be the first ever Native American Cabinet Secretary.

 

8. Dr Miguel Cardona as Secretary of State for Education

Dr. Cardona’s grand parents are from Puerto Rico – would be the second Latino to run the Education Department after Lauro Cavazos in the late 1980s.

 

9. First woman of colour to chair the CEA

Cecilia Rouse would be the first woman of colour to chair the Council of Economic Advisors (CEA).

 

10.  First Female Secretary of State for first Black Senator in history.

 

First-ever in American Democracy

1. Joe Biden was the first Democratic Presidential candidate in the State to win the State in almost 30 years. 

Biden was the first the oldest President at the age of 78 years

Biden is the second Catholic President after John F. Kennedy who was the First Catholic President

 

Donald Trump former President of USA

1. Former President Donald Trump did not attend the inauguration ceremony on 20 January 2021. He is the first President not to attend the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony since the 1860s – more than 150 years.

2. First time U.S. President Impeach twice. Donald Trump is the first President in U.S. history to be impeached for the second time.

 

President Joe Biden’s Inaugural Address

Joseph R. Biden Jr., in his first address as president, made a sweeping call for unity, truth and racial justice as the nation faces one of its darkest hours in the midst of a raging pandemic and bitter political division, reported by The Washington Post.

 .

It also added, “The address came just days after the deadly siege of the Capitol, during which supporters of former President Donald Trump broke through police barriers and ransacked the building as Congress gathered to ratify Biden's election.

 

"Today we celebrate the triumph, not of a candidate, but of a cause, the cause of democracy," Biden said. "The people, the will of the people, has been heard, and the will of the people has been heeded." He went on, "We've learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile. And at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed."”

 

The Future

Madeline Albright writing in The Financial Times on 12 October 2020 observed: “Mr. Biden, if elected, will inherit a country diminished by his predecessor’s search for ‘greatness’ in all the wrong places: The new president’s task will be daunting: to reassure allies; reassert leadership on climate change and world health; forge effective  coalitions to check the ambitions of China, Russia and Iran; and re-establish the US’s identity as a champion of democracy.” The writer is a former US Secretary of State and author of ‘Hell and Other Destinations: A 21^st Century Memoir’.

 

But there are brightest side also.

Though the next couple of years could be ugly and unproductive, but there are brightest side also. Mr. Brandy Dennis said, “Gone will be a president who daily weakens democracy with authoritarian tendencies. Out will be the man who fuels our basest instincts with racism, vulgarity, vitriol, violence, self-dealing, lies and conspiracy theories. We’ll gain control of the pandemic, and you’ll return to school safely, we’ll rejoin the fellowship of nations. We’ll care about human rights again.

America and the world, can exhale for now. We’ve avoided the worst outcome.”

 

President Biden’s First day Executive Orders

In his first hours as president, Joe Biden started signing a series of executive actions that reverse his predecessor’s orders on immigration, climate change, and the handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

 

President Biden signed 15 orders and actions hours after being sworn in as US leader to break from Trump policies and set new paths on immigration, the environment, fighting COVID-19 and the economy, they said.

 

In first-day moves, he undo significant action from his predecessor Donald Trump’s much-assailed ban on visitors from several Muslim-majority countries and halt construction of the wall that Trump ordered on the US-Mexico border to stem illegal immigration. He also set a mask-wearing mandate on federal properties to stem the spread of COVID-19, restore protections of nature reserves removed by Trump, and seek freezes on evictions and protection for millions behind on their mortgages because of the pandemic, reported by The Guardian.

 

He also signed an order allowing the United States to rejoin the Paris climate agreement and end the Trump administration’s efforts to exclude undocumented immigrants from the census data used to determine how many seats in Congress each state gets.

 

 “As he began signing the orders, Biden, wearing a mask and seated behind the ResoluteDesk, said: “I think some of the things we’re going to be doing are bold and vital, and there’s no time to start like today.”

 

The Guardian also wrote: It’s not unusual for an incoming president to take executive action immediately after being sworn into office, a move meant to show the nation that the newly inaugurated president is getting to work. But the breadth and volume of Biden’s immediate executive orders underscore how quickly the new president intends to move in addressing the Covid-19 pandemic and turning the page from the Trump administration.

 

It continued: “These executive actions will make an immediate impact in the lives of so many people in desperate need of help,” Wade Henderson, the interim president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, said in a statement. “Reversing Trump’s deeply discriminatory Muslim ban, addressing the Covid-19 crisis, preventing evictions and foreclosures, and advancing equity and support for communities of color and other underserved communities are significant early actions that represent an important first step in charting a new direction for our country.”

 

 

 

 

 

Myanmar Military Coup and Rohingya Plight Debated In the British Parliament

Dr. Mozammel Haque

 

The Minister for Asia, Nigel Adams, made a statement on the present situation of Myanmar at the British Parliament on 2 February, 2021. He said, “I would like to update the House on the situation in Myanmar. On Sunday evening, Myanmar’s armed forces, the Tatmadaw, seized control of the country, declaring a state of emergency in the early hours of Monday morning. The country is now under the effective control of the commander-in-chief and the military vice-president, Myint Swe. At around 0200 hours local time on 1 February, the Tatmadaw began detaining politicians and civil society leaders across the country, including the democratically elected Aung Sang Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint. The Tatmadaw has said that this state of emergency will continue for a year.”

 

He also mentioned, “While there were significant concerns about the disenfranchisement of minority groups such as the Rohingya, there are no suggestions of widespread irregularities. International observers, such as the Carter Centre and the Asian Network for Free Elections, found no evidence of significant irregularities in the elections. As such, the United Kingdom considers the election result to credibly reflect the will of the people and that Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party is the rightful winner of the election.”

 

The Minister for Asia said, “This coup threatens to set Myanmar’s progress back by years—potentially decades. As such, we are clear in our condemnation of this coup, the state of emergency imposed in Myanmar and the unlawful detention of democratically elected politicians and civil society by the military. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary both issued statements to this effect on Monday morning. It is essential that Aung San Suu Kyi and all those unlawfully detained are released. We must receive assurances that their safety, wellbeing and rights are being respected. The state of emergency must be repealed, arbitrary detentions reversed, the outcome of the democratic elections respected and the National Assembly peacefully reconvened. We are aware that there is a risk that demonstrations could provoke a violent response, taking Myanmar back to the dark days of the 1988 uprising or the 2007 saffron revolution, in which scores of civilians were killed.”

 

Speaking about UK’s response, the Minister for Asia, Nigel Adams mentioned, “I formally summoned Myanmar’s ambassador to the UK to the Foreign Office yesterday. In the meeting, I condemned the military coup and the arbitrary detention of civilians, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and made it clear that the democratic wishes of the people of Myanmar must be respected, and the elected National Assembly peacefully reconvened. We are doing all we can, working with those in Myanmar, to support a peaceful resolution to this crisis.”

 

Secondly, the international community has a role to play, mentioned Nigel Adams and added, The UK has urgently convened the UN Security Council, which will meet later today. As a champion of the rules-based international order and democratic government, we are driving the international response, including in our role as president of both the G7 and the UN Security Council, urging the military to immediately hand back power to the Government that were legitimately elected in November 2020.”

 

The Minister for Asia also mentioned, “Thirdly, the UK has already a number of measures in place in response to the military’s past and ongoing atrocities.”

 “On 19 September 2017, the UK announced the suspension of all defence engagement and training with the Myanmar military by the Ministry of Defence until there is a satisfactory resolution to the situation in Rakhine. The MOD no longer has a defence section in Yangon. The United Kingdom has already imposed sanctions on 16 individuals responsible for human rights violations in Myanmar. We sanctioned all six individuals named by the UN fact-finding mission report, including the commander-in-chief and his deputy, who are the architects of the current political situation and who also have the power to de-escalate the crisis and restore democracy. We will assess how best to engage with the military, if at all. We have also enhanced private sector due diligence to prevent UK funds from going to military-owned companies.”

British Parliament and Rohingya Genocide

 

The Rohingya people have faced decades of systematic discrimination, statelessness and targeted violence in Rakhine State, Myanmar. Such persecution has forced Rohingya women, girls, boys and men into Bangladesh for many years, with significant spikes, following violent attacks in 1978, 1991-1992 and again in 2016. Yet it was August 2017 that triggered by far the largest and fastest refugee influx into Bangladesh, [reported in United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA)].

 

BBC reported on January 2020: In August 2017, a deadly crackdown by Myanmar’s Army on Rohingya Muslims sent hundreds of thousands fleeing across the border into Bangladesh. They risked everything to escape by sea or on foot a military offensive which the United Nations later described as “Textbook Example of ethnic cleansing.”

 

In January 2020, the UN’s top court ordered the Buddhist – majority country to take measures to protect members of its Rohingya community from genocide. But the army in Myanmar (Formerly Burma) has said it was fighting Rohingya militants and denies targeting civilians. The country;’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi, once a human rights icon, has repeatedly denied allegations of Genocide.

 

Described by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres  as “One, if not the, most discriminated people in the world,@ the Rohingya are one of Myanmar’s many ethnic minorities. (Myanmar Rohingya, BBC, 23 January, 2020)

 

UNHCR Reported: “Over a million Rohingya refugees have fled violence in Myanmar in successive waves of displacement since the early 1990s. The latest exodus began on 25 August 2017, when violence broke out in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, driving more than 742,000 to seek refuge in Bangladesh. The vast majority reaching Bangladesh are women and children. Many others are elderly people requiring additional aid and protection. They have nothing and need everything. [UNHCR]

 

Stephen Kinnock 

(Aberavon) (Lab)

Labour Member for Aberavon, Stephen Kinnock, said, “How has it come to this? Well, for decades, the power-hungry Myanmar military has oppressed and persecuted the Burmese people, committing countless atrocities—most notably against the Rohingya, for which it currently stands accused of genocide in the International Court of Justice. Experts on Myanmar are clear that the tacit support of China, combined with the rest of the world turning a blind eye, has given the military the confidence to enact this coup, based on the assumption that the international backlash will be negligible and lethargic. The UK and the wider international community must act swiftly and effectively to prove the military wrong on this. The UK Government must move from warm words of condemnation to tangible action”

 

He also said, “As the penholder on Myanmar at the Security Council, the UK has a particular and unique responsibility to lead the international response. We welcome the Security Council session the Government have convened today, but we believe there are further steps that must be taken.

 

“First, the Government must lead by example by imposing sanctions on the Myanmar military and all its business interests. When I urged the Minister to take this action last year, he argued against such measures on the ground that it would have a negative impact on foreign investment into the Myanmar economy. Well, there is nothing like a military coup to damage foreign investment, so surely the Minister must now accept that his argument no longer stands up to scrutiny and that the Government must immediately impose sanctions that directly target the military and its financial backers.

 

“Secondly, the UK Government should seek to extend the arms embargo against Myanmar so that it is as close as possible to global in its scale and scope. Clearly, authoritarian regimes such as Russia and China will be unlikely to participate, but we must seek to build the broadest possible coalition of countries committed to not selling weapons to Myanmar.

 

“Thirdly, now must surely be the time for the Minister to commit the UK to joining the Netherlands and Canada in formally supporting the Gambia in its case of genocide brought against Myanmar at the ICJ. Will he also call for Myanmar’s first report to the ICJ, published last June, to be made public in order to shine a light on the atrocities committed by the military? I would also like the Minister to set out what conversations he has had with the Bangladeshi Government to ensure that humanitarian aid contributed by the UK is sufficiently reaching the Rohingya who have fled to Cox’s Bazar.”

Nigel Adams 

The Minister for Asia, Nigel Adams replied, “As he rightly remarks, as penholder, we have brought forward by a day a meeting on Myanmar at the Council as a matter of urgency, and that meeting will take place in New York this afternoon.

 

He said, “I politely point out to him that we have already imposed sanctions on 16 individuals responsible for human rights violations in Myanmar, including six individuals named by the UN fact-finding mission report. However, of course we will work closely with our international partners to consider next steps in that regard and we will constantly consider all the tools at our disposal.

 

Replying to the question asked by Stephen Kinnock whether we would support an international arms embargo, the Minister for Asia replied, “We are a long-standing supporter of an arms embargo in Myanmar. We worked with EU partners to secure and tighten a strong EU arms embargo following the 2017 Rohingya crisis. Since we left the EU, we have transitioned this into domestic law. Our autonomous sanctions regulations prohibit the provision of military-related services, including the provision of technical assistance, to or for the benefit of the Tatmadaw.”

 

Replying to another question relating to the case brought by the Gambia, Nigel Adams said, “We have been very clear in our support for the ICJ process, which is putting pressure on Myanmar, and particularly the military, to do more to protect the Rohingya. We have pressed the civilian Government to engage constructively and transparently, and we urge the military to comply with the provisional measures ruling.”

 

Speaking about Bangladesh, The Minister for Asia said, “We are working very closely with the Bangladesh authorities and we are speaking with the Bangladesh Government. We are the second largest donor to support the Rohingya who are currently in Bangladesh.”

 

In the British Parliament

Most of the Cross-Party members of the British Parliament raised on this occasion the issue of the plight of the Rohingya Muslims and Rohingya Genocide.

Imran Hussain 

(Bradford East) (Lab) [V]

Labour Member for Bradford East, Imran Hussain, said, “For over three years, I have repeatedly called for the Government to enact sanctions against the Burmese military for its brutality in the Rohingya genocide, but on each occasion those calls were rejected by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, which essentially told me that imposing sanctions would endanger the fledgling democracy in the country. Does the Minister now agree that this military coup shows that those were unfounded claims and, frankly, poor excuses for refusing to act in the face of the genocide against the Rohingya? Instead, the Government did more harm than good by emboldening the Burmese military.

Nigel Adams 

The Minister for Asia, Nigel Adams, replied, “in fact the United Kingdom has already imposed sanctions on military individuals, including the commander-in-chief and his deputy. We are absolutely clear. If the hon. Gentleman’s campaigning over the past three years on this issue has led to that, I congratulate him, but we have already delivered sanctions for human rights violations in Myanmar. Let us be absolutely clear, the commander-in-chief and his deputy are the architects of this current crisis.

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi 

(Slough) (Lab)

Labour Member for Slough, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, said, “This appalling military coup and overthrow of a democratically elected Government is undoubtedly a major setback for the progress and development of Myanmar. However, the likes of me are particularly concerned about the desperate plight of the Rohingya Muslims, who have faced a genocide. Approximately a million had to flee their own country and are now refugees in Bangladesh and other nations. What is the Minister doing to spearhead an international effort to ensure that there is no further crackdown by the authoritarian military regime on the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya still in Myanmar, many of whom are interned in camps and unable to move freely, with extremely limited access to basic health and education services?”

Nigel Adams 

The Minister for Asia, Nigel Adams, replied, “We are monitoring the situation as closely as we can, but we are also working closely with our partners. I talked about us convening the meeting this afternoon in New York so that we can have a joint response with the UN Security Council.”

 

He said, “I assure him that we will ensure that we continue to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance, including for the Rohingya. We are alert to the possibility of all sorts of horrific violence, such as identity-based violence, being committed—there are reports of that. We are one of the largest donors to Rakhine state, which is one of the poorest states in Myanmar. Our assistance helps with education, nutrition, livelihoods and health, and we are supporting all communities.”

Imran Ahmad Khan 

(Wakefield) (Con) [V]

Conservative Member for Wakefield, said, “Like all Members of this House, I found myself deeply disappointed when Aung San Suu Kyi chose to take no action against the genocide of Rohingya, but that grave failure should not temper our condemnation of the quasi-constitutional military coup, which undermines the futures, freedoms and democratic rights of the Burmese people. Will my hon. Friend the Minister further outline what his Department is doing to promote the fundamental and universal rights of democracy, freedom and liberty in Burma in light of the recent events?

Nigel Adams 

The Minister for Asia, Nigel Adams replied, “I assure him that the United Kingdom places the highest premium on respect for democracy and the rules-based international system. We have been talking to regional and international partners about that, and we call on Myanmar to respect the principles of the ASEAN charter, including the rule of law, good governance, as I mentioned, and the principles of democracy and constitutional government.

 

Alyn Smith 

(Stirling) (SNP) [V]

SNP Member for Stirling, Alyn Smith said, “I think the EU’s position on this will be important, and co-ordinating on that will be very much to the benefit. It is early days yet, but what assessment has been made by our mission within country of the already dreadful situation of the Rohingya? Is there a risk of flight of Rohingya into Cox’s Bazar and into Bangladesh? Can the Minister give a reassurance that if more aid is necessary, we stand ready to provide it to the Bangladeshi Government, because this, will take a concerted international effort? If he continues along those tracks, he will have our support.”

Nigel Adams 

The Minister for Asia, Nigel Adams, replied: “Given our presidency of the G7 and the UN Security Council, we are using these opportunities to drive forward the international response, and that will include dealing and liaising with our friends in the EU. We all need to stand together to demonstrate that we will not stand for a subversion of democracy. We are talking with a broad range of international partners, including the neighbours of Myanmar, and especially the ASEAN countries. The hon. Gentleman mentioned aid. This year, the UK is spending £88 million in-country in Myanmar on supporting the people of Myanmar. In addition, since 2017 we have spent almost a third of a billion pounds supporting humanitarian aid and supporting the Rohingya who are displaced and have found themselves in Bangladesh.

Chris Bryant 

(Rhondda) (Lab) [V]

Labour Member for Rhondda, Chris Bryant, said, “While China still plays a role in refusing to allow those who are accused of genocides to come to a proper international court, how can the Minister be sure that those that perpetrate genocide are not just going to get away with it? If we cannot get such determinations in an international court, would it not make sense that they are made in a court of law in the UK?”

Nigel Adams 

The Minister for Asia, Nigel Adams, replied, “On the reference to genocide, we have been very clear that we support the current case in the ICJ process, putting pressure on Myanmar. I think the case will develop significantly in the coming months; we are monitoring that case very closely.

Jim Shannon 

(Strangford) (DUP)

DUP Member for Strangford, said, “As the House is all too aware, this is not the first time in recent years that Burmese military leaders have committed unconscionable crimes. Their brutal assault against the Rohingya community, which has displaced hundreds of thousands and murdered thousands, was described by the UN as a

“textbook example of ethnic cleansing”.

 

He asked, “Does the Minister agree that the international community’s failure to take substantial action against the Burmese military following that assault has emboldened its leaders to act against democracy in Burma?”

Nigel Adams 

The Minister for Asia, Nigel Adams, replied, “I gently point out that we have taken action against the Myanmar military, specifically the six individuals who were named in the UN fact-finding report. Sixteen in total were on the receiving end of our sanctions regime.”

Rushanara Ali 

(Bethnal Green and Bow) (Lab) [V]

Labour Member for Bethnal Green and Bow, Rushanara Ali, said, “This coup is the latest in a horrifying series of actions by the Myanmar military against the people of that country. We must do all we can to secure the immediate release of the democratically elected leader and all those who have been detained unlawfully. The military, led by General Min Aung Hlaing, have been acting for years with impunity, including in the atrocities committed against the Rohingya and other minorities.

 

She also said, “The interventions of our Government, as well as those of the international community, have been insufficient. The UN Security Council meeting today is critically important, and I welcome that. Can the Minister tell the House whether our Government will be pushing for further tougher, targeted sanctions against the Burmese military and formally supporting the genocide prevention case at the International Court of Justice, led by the Gambia, to protect the remaining Rohingya people in that country? It is not good enough for the Minister to keep saying, “We are reviewing it,” or, “We are supporting it, but we are not prepared to formally support it yet.” It is time that we took action. If this coup is not enough to force our Government to act, then I do not know what else will force them to act to get behind this case. I hope the Minister can be more vociferous in answering those questions today.”

Nigel Adams 

The Minister for Asia, Nigel Adams, replied, “We are using our penholder role to ensure that Myanmar stays on the UN Security Council agenda. We convened the Security Council three times last year to discuss the case brought by Gambia, covid and the situation in Rakhine and the Chin states. We have been very clear that Myanmar has to make progress on accountability. The case will develop significantly in the coming months and, as I said in a previous answer, we will be carefully monitoring developments to consider the legal arguments to establish whether a UK intervention would add value, but I am sure the whole House will want to see the outcome of the UN Security Council meeting in New York this afternoon.”

Peter Grant 

(Glenrothes) (SNP) [V]

SNP Member for Glenrothes, said, “The Minister has reminded us that the commander-in-chief and his deputy are responsible for the current emergency situation in Myanmar. They and their associates are also responsible for the wholesale and systematic campaign of rape, torture and murder of the Rohingya Muslims, entirely for racist reasons.”

 

He asked, “Can he give us an assurance that, in among the other discussions that are now required within the international community, high up on the agenda will be a restated determination that everyone who was responsible for those atrocities in Myanmar will one day be brought to justice and held to account for their crimes?”

Nigel Adams 

The Minister for Asia, Nigel Adams, replied, “We must ensure that there is accountability for those who have committed atrocities. The United Kingdom is clear that the Myanmar military undertook a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya in 2017, and we are pushing for those guilty of atrocities to be held to account. In our joint statement to the UN Security Council on 11 September, we called for Myanmar to make progress on this accountability, and in the current absence of a credible domestic process, all options must be on the table, including referral to the International Criminal Court.”

 

Sam Tarry 

(Ilford South) (Lab) [V]

Labour Member for Ilford South, Sam Tarry, said, “As the Minister knows, over 1 million Rohingya refugees have fled Myanmar following an escalation of violence over the past few years. Many residents in Ilford South have written to me concerned that the recent coup is yet another in a long line of worrying developments for Rohingya people. Will the Minister explain what measures the Government have taken to protect Rohingya people, who may now face even greater levels of persecution and oppression?”

Nigel Adams 

The Minister for Asia, Nigel Adams, replied, “We are working very closely with our partners to ensure that lifesaving humanitarian assistance is delivered for the Rohingya. We are alert to the possibility of further violence being committed. As I mentioned to my hon. Friend the Member for Crawley (Henry Smith), we are one of the largest donors in Rakhine state, which is one of the poorest states in Myanmar. We will continue to provide humanitarian and development assistance to the most vulnerable areas.”