The Friday sermon for Aug 7, 2026 (corresponding to 23 Safar 1448 AH) - Sayed Hashim Behbehani Mosque - Sheikh Ali Hassan Ghuloum - Kuwait

 

The 1st sermon:

"The Light of Guidance and the Greatness of the Mission: A Reading of the Second Supplication of Imam Zain al-Abidin (PBUH)"

The Second Supplication of Imam Zain al-Abidin (pbuH) in Blessings Upon the Messenger of Allah begins with praise and gratitude to Almighty Allah for bestowing upon us the gift of His Prophet. The Imam says:

"Praise be to God who favored us with His Prophet Muhammad (pbuh&f), over past nations and bygone generations, through His power that is never weakened by anything—no matter how great—nor misses anything, no matter how subtle. Thus, He made us the final nation among all His creation, appointed us as witnesses over those who deny the truth, and multiplied our numbers through His grace where others were few."

After darkness and polytheism once blanketed the Earth, the light of Islam illuminated the world. People embraced the faith in vast numbers, guided by the profound sacrifices and tireless efforts of the Prophet of Mercy.

"O God, bless Muhammad—the trustee of Your revelation, the chosen among Your creation, Your elite servant, the leader of mercy, the guide to goodness, and the key to blessings. Just as he dedicated himself to Your command, exposed his body to hardship for Your sake, openly confronted his closest kin while calling to You, and fought his own tribe to earn Your pleasure…"

He exerted himself relentlessly to deliver Your message, endured fatigue to invite people to Your religion, and devoted his life to advising those who responded to his call. He migrated to distant lands, far from his homeland, his birthplace, and the comfort of his home—seeking only to exalt Your religion and gain victory over disbelief.

The Imam concludes with a heartfelt prayer for the Prophet, to which we say Amen:

"O God, elevate him—for all his struggles for Your sake—to the highest rank of Your Paradise, so that no one equals his stature, rivals his position, or rivals him among the nearest angels or sent messengers. Grant him, regarding his pure family and faithful nation, the grandest intercession You have promised. O You whose promise is ever-binding, whose word is faithful, and who multiplies good deeds over misdeeds! Indeed, You are the Possessor of Great Bounty, the All-Generous, the Most Kind."

The 2nd sermon:

The Etiquette of Prophetic Dialogue in the Social Media Era

In Commemoration of the Prophet’s Passing: A Call to Elevate Digital Discourse

We live today in an open digital world where screens have transformed into pulpits and social media platforms into arenas for debate. However, this virtual space is suffering from a severe moral crisis characterized by aggressive dialogues, cyberbullying, the rapid spread of rumors, and a profound lack of listening.

As we commemorate the passing of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&F), we seek to draw inspiration from his guidance to address this contemporary dilemma.

Axis I: The Skill of Listening and Verifying Before Commenting

In the realm of social media, everyone races to write and comment before fully understanding the context. The Prophetic methodology teaches us complete, attentive, and neutral listening as the first step to successful dialogue.

Historically, the Quraysh tribe sent Utbah ibn Rabi'ah to negotiate with the Prophet (PBUH&F) and dissuade him from his mission. Utbah spoke at length, accusing the Prophet of dividing the community and insulting their religion, even offering him wealth and marriage to stop.

The key takeaway is that the Prophet never interrupted him. He listened until the very end. When Utbah fell silent, the Prophet simply asked: "Have you finished?" When Utbah replied yes, the Prophet responded appropriately by reciting verses from the Holy Quran.

Application in the Digital Reality:

• Consume Fully: Before commenting, read the entire post or watch the full video to ensure you understand the complete picture.
• Do Not Interrupt: Do not dismiss a writer's entire idea just because the beginning did not appeal to you or conflicted with your opinion.

Axis II: Combating Digital Viruses and Avoiding Rumors

Modern algorithms reward sensationalism and speed of publication, facilitating the rampant spread of Fake News.

The Prophet (PBUH&F) established a decisive law to protect societal security from this chaos, stating: "It is enough of a lie for a person to repeat everything he hears." This means the individual bears the responsibility of sharing. Mindlessly forwarding everything makes one a conduit for fabricated lies, which may be intentionally designed by adversaries.

The Holy Quran strictly warns against this. Regarding the incident of the slander (Al-Ifk), God Almighty says:

"When you took it up with your tongues, and spoke with your mouths things you did not know [to be true], you thought it was trivial, but to God it was very serious. (15) When you heard the lie, why did you not say, ‘We should not repeat this- God forbid!- It is a monstrous slander’? (16) God warns you never to do anything like this again, if you are true believers. (17)" [Surah Al-Nur: 15-17, Translation by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem].

God also says:

"Believers, if a troublemaker brings you news, check it first, in case you wrong others unwittingly and later regret what you have done," [Surah Al-Hujurat: 6, Translation by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem].

Application in the Digital Reality:

• The Pause Rule: Before hitting "Share," "Retweet," or "Forward," ask yourself: Have I verified the authenticity of this news?
• Avoid Suspicious Trends: Do not contribute to creating a questionable "trend" or spreading a scandal under the pretext of "just sharing" or finding it "surprising."
• Permanent Footprints: In the Prophetic era, a rumor's impact was temporally limited, yet the divine threat was severe. Today, digital rumors live forever and spread globally in seconds, amplifying the danger.

Axis III: The Refined Response

Behind screens, shielded by pseudonyms, many dare to insult, curse, and demean, feeling safe from exposure. The Prophetic approach inextricably links faith to self-restraint.

The Prophet (PBUH&F) was never "obscene, nor a curser, nor abusive." He guided his companions by saying: "A true believer is not a defamer, nor a curser, nor one who is obscene or abusive." This moral standard applies whether your identity is known or hidden; ethics are indivisible.

Furthermore, God Almighty reminds us:

"He knows what is said in secret and what is even more hidden." [Surah Ta-Ha: 7, Translation by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem].

And:

"he does not utter a single word without an ever-present watcher." [Surah Qaf: 18, Translation by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem].

Application in the Digital Reality:

• Critique Ideas, Not People: Criticize the concept or the mistake, not the author's person, appearance, or tone.
• Walk Away from Toxicity: If faced with a sterile argument or insults, remember the verse: "...and when the ignorant address them, they reply, ‘Peace’;" [Surah Al-Furqan: 63]. Intelligently withdraw by ignoring or blocking, without engaging in vitriol.
• Your Digital Ledger: Remember that what your fingers type becomes part of your record of deeds, for which you will be held accountable.

Conclusion & Recommendations

The best way to commemorate the passing of the Prophet (PBUH&F) today is to transform our reality into one that pleases God and mirrors His Messenger. We must act as the best ambassadors of his ethics in the digital world.

Social media is not a space isolated from religion; it is an extension of our reality. Make your participation in this virtual world a platform for building, not destroying. If you encounter ignorance, respond with knowledge and politeness, or choose silence and withdrawal, as God says:

"When you come across people who speak with mockery about Our revelations, turn away from them until they move on to another topic. If Satan should make you forget, then, when you have remembered, do not sit with those who are doing wrong." [Surah Al-An'am: 68, Translation by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem].

Always remember the Golden Rule: Type only what would please you to see in your book of deeds.