When it was announced that Jumuʿah would be held in the Ayasofya for the first time after 86 years, the parallel with ʾal-ʾAqṣā struck me. The Crusaders took Baytul Muqaddas on 15 July 1099 and Ṣalāḥuddīn liberated the city on 2 October 1187. For a similar period of 88 years no Jumuʿah was conducted.
I must have been a teenager when I read that someone had recorded the first sermon delivered after the liberation. I could not find it in the English books I searched. I became a student of the Islāmic sciences and could now search Arabic books, but to no avail. It was perhaps after a decade since my quest began, that I finally found my treasure. May Allāh reward ʾIbn Khalliqān!
The parallel with Ayasofya made me think that I should perhaps translate the sermon and share it. Why should others have to repeat my quest? It may seem contradictory, that when I examine what knowledge I do have, I know it to be less than a drop, but when I examine what can be shared, only a tiny pebble from a mountain has been shared. How wonderful if some reader of this translation will also listen to the first sermon in ʾal-ʾAqṣā after its liberation from the Zionists. He remembers what he read and offers a word to Allāh to overlook my shortcomings. That may be enough for my salvation.
Notes:
- I have never spoken or written in any form about Ayasofya and cannot claim any share of the reward for those who strove to purify the masjid from its Kemalist chains. I salute them but declare my disdain for those who suddenly hype on social media as if this were their lifelong dream which they campaigned for since childhood, and for which every Muslim prayed after every Ṣalāh. Most non-Turkish Muslims were probably not even aware of the existence of this masjid a few weeks ago. Exaggeration and misrepresentation of facts are inappropriate for Muslims. May Allāh grant us sincerity.
- I have intentionally omitted explanatory notes in my translation in regards obscure references to Islāmic history and geography. A people who know every detail of their favourite sports, movie or music idol can make the time to study their religion and allied sciences.
- I have intentionally translated Biblical names and not kept them in Arabic. You may read my reason here.
- The translated text is that of three people as follows:
- The bulk is the actual translated sermon of the Qāḍī, Muḥammad bin Zakī ʾal-ʾUmawī, known as Muḥyī ʾad-Dīn. I have formatted his words with quotation marks to separate it from the rest. Ibn Zakī (550-598 Hijrī) was a direct descendant of ʿUthmān bin ʿAffān (may Allāh be pleased with him), a Shāfiʿī jurist and Qāḍī of Damascus. An accomplished jurist, poet and orator, Ṣalāhuddīn greatly respected him.
- The historian, ʾIbn Khalliqān (1211-1282) who records the sermon, and offers certain statements, before, during and after the text of the sermon. He was a Shafiʿī jurist, Qāḍī of Damascus, and author of the celebrated Wafayātul ʾAʿyān in which he recorded this sermon. His words are in Bold.
- Limited translator’s notes in square brackets.
سليمان الكندي
Twitter: @sulayman_Kindi
ʿIbn Khalliqān narrates:
When the Sulṭān [Ṣalāḥuddīn] conquered ʾal-Quds ʾash-Sharīf, the learned ones who were present in his service stretched their necks [wished to] deliver the Friday sermon. Each prepared a most eloquent sermon, with the hope that he would be appointed for the task. An edict was sent to ʾal-Qāḍī Muḥyī ʾad-Dīn instructing him to deliver the sermon. The Sulṭān and the prominent personalities of the realm gathered for the first Jumuʿah to be prayed since the conquest.
ʾIbn Zakī mounted the pulpit and commenced with Sūrah ʾal-Fātiḥah in its entirety. He then recited:
فَقُطِعَ دَابِرُ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا ۚ وَالْحَمْدُ لله رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
The wrongdoers have been cut off to the last remnant! All praise be to Allāh, Cherishing-Lord of the worlds [ʾal-ʾAnʿām: 45]
الْحَمْدُ لله الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ وَجَعَلَ الظُّلُمَاتِ وَالنُّورَ
All Praise be to Allāh, Who created the heavens and the earth, and made darknesses and light…. [ʾal-ʾAnʿām: 1]
وَقُلِ الْحَمْدُ لله الَّذِي لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ وَلَدًا وَلَم يَكُن لَّهُ شَرِيكٌ فِي الْمُلْكِ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ وَلِيٌّ مِّنَ الذُّلَّ وَكَبِّرْهُ تَكْبِيرًا
And say: All praise be to Allāh Who never made a son, nor has He a partner in sovereignty, nor a protector due to weakness. So declare His greatness with all glory. [ʾal-ʾIsrāʿ: 111]
الْحَمْدُ لله الَّذِي أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ الْكِتَابَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُ عِوَجًا ۜ . قَيِّمًا لِّيُنذِرَ بَأْسًا شَدِيدًا مِّن لَّدُنْهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا حَسَنًا . مَّاكِثِينَ فِيهِ أَبَدًا
All praise be to Allāh Who revealed the Book upon His Slave and made no crookedness in it. It is straight, to warn of severe punishment from Him, and to bring glad tidings unto the believers who do good deeds that for them will be a good reward. Wherein they will abide forever. [ʾal-Kahf: 1-3]
قُلِ الْحَمْدُ لله وَسَلَامٌ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ الَّذِينَ اصْطَفَى آلله خَيْرٌ أَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
Say: All praise be to Allāh and peace be upon His slaves whom He chose. Is Allāh better or those partners which they attribute? [ʾan-Naml:59]
الْحَمْدُ لله الَّذِي لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ وَهُوَ الْحَكِيمُ الْخَبِيرُ
All praise be to Allāh to Whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth. All praise belongs to Him in the hereafter. He is Most Wise, All-Informed. [Sabaʾ: 1]
الْحَمْدُ لله فَاطِرِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ جَاعِلِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ رُسُلًا أُولِي أَجْنِحَةٍ مَّثْنَى وَثُلَاثَ وَرُبَاعَ يَزِيدُ فِي الْخَلْقِ مَا يَشَاء إِنَّ الله عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
All praise be to Allāh, the Originator of the heavens and earth, maker of angels as messengers with two, three and four [sets of] wings. He increases in creation what He wills. Verily Allāh has power over everything.
[ʾal-Fāṭir: 1]
He thus intended gathering from the Noble Qurʾān the praises of Allāh. He then commenced the sermon as follows.
All praise be to Allāh, the Grantor of honour to Islām through His help, the Inflictor of disgrace upon the attribution of partners through His overwhelming power; the Changer of affairs by His command, the Lengthener of bounties when He is thanked, the Lengthener of respite to the ungrateful disbelievers, through His design.
It is He who measured days in turns for domination by His justice but made the final outcome for those who fear Him through His grace. He showered His booty upon His slaves from His Shade and made His religion triumph over every other religion. He is overpowering over all His slaves and cannot be blocked. He is manifestly apparent over all His creation and His attributes cannot be expunged. He commands as He wills, and none can appeal against that. He decrees as he intends, and none can repel that.
I praise him for the conquest and victory He has bestowed, for honouring His friends and helping His helpers, for purifying His Holy House from the attribution of partners and its filth and pollution, such a praise which is perceived to the inner mystery and outer manifestation.
I testify that there is no god but Allāh alone. The One! He who is independent, but all depend on. He Who does not beget nor is begotten, and there is none similar to Him. A testimony of one who purifies his heart with monotheism and is pleased with Him as Cherishing-Lord.
I testify that Muḥammad is His slave and Messenger, the remover of doubt, he who silenced polytheism, who washed away false accusation, who was taken on the night journey from ʾal-Masjid ʾal-Ḥarām to ʾal-Masjid ʾal-ʾAqṣā. From there he was raised to the highest heavens, to the Furthest Lote Tree, there is the garden of rest, his sight did not swerve nor overstep. Allāh’s salutations be upon him and his successor, ʾAbū Bakr the Truthful who was the foremost in hastening to faith, and upon the Commander of the Believers, ʿUmar son of ʾal-Khaṭṭāb, who was the first to remove the symbols of the Cross from this House, and upon the Commander of the Believers, ʿUthmān son of ʿAffān, the possessor of the two lights, the gatherer of the Qurʾān, and upon the Commander of the Believers, ʿAlī son of ʾAbū Ṭālib, the shaker of polytheism, the smasher of idols, and upon his family, his Companions and those who follow them in good.
O people! Rejoice at the tidings of Allāh’s pleasure, which is the ultimate goal and most elevated station. For indeed Allāh had eased through your hands the return of this lost she-camel from the clutches of a lost people. He returned her to her proper home in Islām after the polytheists had been abusing her for almost a hundred years. He purified this House which he had commanded be raised and that His Name be remembered therein. He removed polytheism from its pathways when the tent of polytheism had been pitched over it and its rituals entrenched. He had raised its foundation upon His Oneness and built upon that a building for His Glorification. Its foundation is awareness of Allāh, from behind, from in front.
This is the land of residence of your forefather Abraham and the place from where your Prophet Muḥammad ascended, salutations and peace be upon him. This is the direction you prayed towards during the early days of Islām. It is here that Prophets stayed, and saints headed towards. Here Messengers were buried, and revelation descended. Commands and prohibitions were revealed here. This is the land of the gathering and this is the plain of resurrection. This is the sacred land which Allāh mentions in His Clear Book. This is the Furthest Masjid in which Allāh’s Messenger led the archangels in prayer, Allāh’s salutations and peace be upon him. This is the land to which Allāh sent His Slave and Messenger and Word which He cast in Mary – His spirit, Jesus, whom He honoured with His Message and ennobled with Prophethood, but never moved him from his station of Slavery. The Most High says:
لَّن يَسْتَنكِفَ الْمَسِيحُ أَن يَكُونَ عَبْدًا لله وَلَا الْمَلَائِكَةُ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ
Never would the Messiah disdain to be a slave of Allāh, nor would the close angels…
[ʾan-Nisā: 172]
Those who invented partners with Allāh have lied and gone far off in their misguidance.
مَا اتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ مِن وَلَدٍ وَمَا كَانَ مَعَهُ مِنْ إِلَهٍ إِذًا لَّذَهَبَ كُلُّ إِلَهٍ بِمَا خَلَقَ وَلَعَلَا بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ
Allāh has not taken any son nor is there any god with Him. For then each god would have taken what he created and some of them overcoming others. Pure is Allāh from they describe! [ʾal-Muʾminūn: 91]
لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِينَ قَآلُواْ إِنَّ اللّهَ هُوَ الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ
Indeed those who said, “God is Jesus son of Mary” have disbelieved…
[FROM VERSE 17] UNTIL THE END OF SŪRAH ʾAL-MĀʾIDAH!
This is the first direction of prayer, the second masjid [built on earth], and the third sacred sanctuary. After the two Masjid, no [set religious] journey is permitted, except to this masjid. After the two lands, no other is honoured above others, except for this land.
If you were not amongst those slaves of Allāh whom he had selected, and chosen from amongst the inhabitants of His lands, He would not have specified you for this virtue which others cannot approach, and this honour which others cannot divest you from.
Congratulation to you for being part of that army upon whose hands the miracles of the Prophet was manifested, battles like Badr, resolve like that of ʾAbū Bakr the Truthful, conquests like that of ʿUmar the Distinguisher, legions like that of ʿUthmān, eradication of the enemies like that of ʿAlī. You have renewed for Islām the days of Qādisīyah, the battles of Yarmūk, the sieges of Khaybar, the campaigns of Khālid.
May Allāh reward you, the best of rewards, on behalf of His Prophet Muḥammad, salutations and peace be upon him. May He appreciate the lifeblood which you sacrificed in battling the enemy. May He accept your efforts to draw closer to Him through the blood that you made flow. May He reward you with Paradise in which is the abode of the fortunate of ones.
May Allāh have mercy upon you, for you should value this bounty as per its right. Stand up for Allāh, for this bounty has an obligation of gratitude attached to it. In specifying you for this bounty, and nominating you for the office of this service, the Most High also places a debt upon you. For this is a conquest for which the gates of heaven have been flung open , and whose light glared upon the faces of the wrongdoers. The archangels rejoiced at it, and the eyes of the Prophets and Messengers found comfort in it.
So imagine the obligation upon you, that He has made you the army at whose hands He conquers the Holy House at the end of times, the army which after the period of Prophethood stands with its swords as the banners of the faith. It may be close that Allāh manifests similar conquests at your hands, and that the inhabitants of the heavens offer more congratulations than the inhabitants of the earth.
Is this not the House which Allāh mentioned in His Book, and explicitly recorded in His Categoric Speech? The Most High says:
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلًا مِّنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الْأَقْصَى
“Pure is He Who took His slave by night on a nocturnal journey from ʾal-Masjid ʾal-Ḥarām to ʾal-Masjid ʾal-ʾAqṣā….”
[ʾal-ʾIsrāʾ: 1]
Is this not the House which all religious communities respect? Which the Messengers extolled? In which were recited all four books revealed from Allāh, Most Mighty and Majestic? Is this not the House for whose sake Allāh prevented the sun from setting on Joshua, and slowed its progression to ease his approach and conquer it? Is this not the House which Allāh, Most Mighty and Majestic, commanded Moses to command his people to investigate for, yet none liked it except two men? This angered Allāh and He cast them into Tīh as a punishment for their disobedience. So praise Allāh for implementing in you that resolve, for which the Children of Israel were punished, whereas they had been preferred above all nations. In addition, you have been guided to do that which those before you, the nations of the past, forsook.
For its sake He united your word, whereas you were disparate before. And he enriched you with that which before had been used to hurt His House. It should make you happy that Allāh mentioned you to those who are with Him; and whereas you were armies of different personal desires, He transformed you into His one army; and that the angels who descend are grateful to you for gifting the purity of monotheism back to this House and for spreading the words of Allāh’s holiness and magnificence, and grateful for your removing from its pathways the harms of polytheism and the Trinity, and sinful filthy beliefs. Now the angels of the heavens pray for your forgiveness and shower prayers of blessings upon you.
Allāh have mercy upon you. You are responsible for preserving this gift amongst you. Be on guard in regards this bounty amongst you, through the means of fearing Allāh, for he who does so will be safe. He who holds onto this handle is saved and protected. Beware of following your desire, and falling into destruction, and determined retreat, and refusal to face the enemy.
Seize the beautiful opportunity, remove what anger remains, strive in Allāh’s way as it should be strived.
O Slaves of Allāh! Sell your lives for His pleasure, for He has already made you amongst His best slaves. However, beware that Satan should not let you slip and enter beyond the bounds. He may make you imagine that this victory was through your sharp swords, and your excellent horses, and your fights on the battlefields. No! By Allāh! Victory is only from Allāh. Allāh is Most Mighty and Wise.
O Slaves of Allāh! You have been honoured with an august victory, an immense prize, selection for Allāh’s clear help, and your hands have been joined on His strong rope. Beware, should after all this, you get involved in any major prohibition of His and approach a considerable disobedience unto Him. For then you will be like she who unravelled her own thread into thin filaments which had been strong when she had spun it, and like him to whom we gave [knowledge of] Our signs, but he detached himself from them; so Satan pursued him, and he became of the deviators.
Jihād! Striving in Allāh’s way is amongst your best forms of worship and noblest of your habits. Help [the religion of] Allāh, He will help you. Protect [the commands of] Allāh, he will protect you. Be grateful unto Allāh. He will increase for you and extend gratitude to you. Exert all out to fight the disease, and utterly eradicate the very roots of the enemy. Purify whatever remains polluted of the earth, such pollution which has angered Allāh and His Messenger! Cut every branch of disbelief and pull out every root. For the very days call out, “O for the vengeance of Islām! O for the followers of Muḥammad!”
Allāh is the greatest! Allāh has conquered and is victorious! Allāh has overpowered and dominates! Allāh has disgraced those who disbelieve. Know that this is an opportunity, so seize it; a hunted animal, so catch it; a booty, so take it; a task of importance, so bring forth your courage and face it. Despatch your expeditions and prepare for it. Affairs matter according to how they end. Earnings matter in what has been saved. For Allāh has granted you victory over a disgraceful enemy whose number equals yours or perhaps more. Yet it has now become that 20 of you face one [survivor] of them. Whereas Allāh says:
إِن يَكُن مِّنكُمْ عِشْرُونَ صَابِرُونَ يَغْلِبُوا مِائَتَيْنِ ۚ وَإِن يَكُن مِّنكُم مِّائَةٌ يَغْلِبُوا أَلْفًا مِّنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَفْقَهُونَ
“…If there are among you twenty [who are] steadfast, they will overcome two hundred. And if there are among you one hundred [who are] steadfast, they will overcome a thousand of those who have disbelieved because they are a people who do not understand.”
[ʾal-ʾAnfāl: 65]
May Allāh assist us and you to obey His commands and restrain from what He restricted. O Muslims, may He grant us that help which is with Him.
إِن يَنصُرْكُمُ اللَّهُ فَلَا غَالِبَ لَكُمْ ۖ وَإِن يَخْذُلْكُمْ فَمَن ذَا الَّذِي يَنصُرُكُم مِّن بَعْدِهِ
If Allah should aid you, no one can overcome you; but if He should forsake you, who is there that can aid you after Him?
[ʾĀl ʿImrān: 160]
The noblest of words which can be said in any situation, the most penetrating arrow against the hardest of speech, the most effective quote which opens understanding, is the Speech of the One, the Singular, the Mighty, All-Knowing. Allāh the Most High says:
وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ وَأَنصِتُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
So when the Qur'an is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy.
[ʾal-ʾAʿrāf: 204]
I seek Allāh’s protection against the accursed Satan. In the Name of Allāh, Whose Being is Merciful and Who grants Mercy to the believers.
He then recited the beginning portion of Sūrah ʾal-Ḥashr, and then said…
I command you and myself with what Allāh commands, beautiful obedience, so obey him. I prohibit you and myself from what He prohibited, ugly disobedience, so not disobey Him. I seek forgiveness of Allāh the great, for myself and for you and for all Muslims, so you too seek His forgiveness.
He then recited the second sermon, which was concise as per the habit of the orators and prayed for ʾan-Nāṣir, who was the Khalīfah at that time. He then said…
O Allāh, preserve the kingdom of Your slave who is humble to You in fear, grateful for Your bounty, acknowledges Your gift, Your cutting sword, Your shining flame, ardent defender of Your religion, unpassable defender of Your sanctuary, the noblest chief, the helper king, the unifier of the strength of the faith, crusher of the Cross-Worshippers, righteous one of the world and religion, the Sulṭān of Islām and the Muslims, the purifier of the Holy House, ʾAbul Muzhaffar Yūsuf bin ʾAyyūb, revivor of the empire of the Commander of the Believers.
O Allāh, extend his empire far and wide. Let Your angels surround his flags. Grant him his reward on behalf of a religion which turns away from all but You. Extend gratitude to him on behalf of the Muḥammadan people for his resolve and its implementation.
O Allāh, for the sake of Islām, let his soul remain; for the sake of the faith, let his territories be protected. Spread his call throughout the east and west of the earth.
O Allāh, just as You conquered the Jerusalem through his hands, after doubts afflicted the people and tribulations tested the believers, conquer at his hands the near lands and the distant. Grant him mastery and control over the fortresses of disbelief. Let no squadron of theirs encounter him except that he shreds them apart, and no group except that he splits them. Should they send army after army, let each meet the fate of the previous.
O Allāh, on behalf of Muḥammad, salutations and peace be upon him, extend thanks to him for his efforts. Implement his commands and prohibitions in the east and west. O Allāh, use him to rectify the conditions of the central lands and the peripheries, through the countries and their borders.
O Allāh, disgrace the noses of the disbelievers through him, and frustrate the sinners. Spread the ascendancy of his kingdom over the cities. O Allāh, keep the kingship firmly in him and his descendants until the Day of Reckoning. Protect him through his sons and the sons of his father, the fortunate princes, and strengthen him by maintaining them. Grant honour to his allies and their allies.
O Allāh, just as you manifested through his hand this good in Islām, which will last for days and remain as months and years pass, grant him an eternal kingdom which will never end in the Abode of Certainty. Accept his supplication when he says:
رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَدْخِلْنِي بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِي عِبَادِكَ الصَّالِحِينَ
“O my Cherishing-Lord, enable me to be grateful for the bounty which You blessed me and my parents with, and enable me to perform that which is righteous and which You are please with. Enter me through Your mercy amongst Your pious slaves.”
[ʾan-Naml: 19]
He then supplicated further as per his habit.
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