Hadith 8 — Fighting for Truth: Islam's Balance of Mercy and Justice

[Arabic,إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ، نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ، وَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَسَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا، مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ، وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ. ]

Indeed, all praise is for Allah. We praise Him, seek His help, and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allah from the evil within ourselves and from the consequences of our wrong actions. Whomsoever Allah guides, none can misguide; whomsoever He leaves astray, none can guide. I bear witness there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah alone without partner, and Muhammad ﷺ is His servant and Messenger.

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Part One: Understanding Islam's Approach to Peace and Justice

Brothers,

Today's khutbah is based on the 8th hadith in Imam Nawawi's 40 Hadith:

[Hadith,Bukhari & Muslim,"On the authority of Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'I have been commanded to fight the people until they testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and until they establish the prayer and pay the zakah. If they do that, then they will have gained protection from me for their lives and property—unless they commit acts punishable in Islam—and their reckoning will be with Allah.'"]

This hadith may seem strict at first glance—but in truth, it demonstrates the justice, clarity, and balance of Islam. Ours is not a religion of mindless violence, nor of helpless pacifism. Islam sets clear, divine boundaries for peace and for war. It doesn't leave these matters to politicians or personal emotions.

Other belief systems may teach to "turn the other cheek" in every case—but Islam acknowledges the real world: a world with tyrants, with criminals, with oppression. In such a world, justice sometimes requires strength.

Islam lays down divine rules:

• No fighting unless necessary
• No transgression even during war
• Peace is better than war if truth can be preserved

[Quran,42:40-43,"The reward of an evil deed is its equivalent. But whoever forgives and seeks reconciliation, then their reward is with Allah. He certainly does not like the wrongdoers. There is no blame on those who enforce justice after being wronged. The blame is only on those who wrong people and transgress in the land unjustly. It is they who will suffer a painful punishment. And whoever endures patiently and forgives—surely this is a resolve to aspire to."]

Look at the Seerah:

• In Makkah, the Prophet ﷺ and Sahabah endured 13 years of torture, mockery, and even murder. Yet, they did not retaliate.
• Only after Hijrah to Madinah and after receiving divine permission did they engage in battle—only to defend, never to initiate harm.

[Quran,22:39,"Permission ˹to fight back˺ is ˹hereby˺ granted to those being fought, for they have been wronged. And Allah is truly Most Capable of helping them ˹prevail˺."]

One of the clearest signs of Islam's love for peace was the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. The Prophet ﷺ signed it even when the terms seemed unfair—just to prevent bloodshed. And during that peace, Islam spread faster than ever before.

And when that treaty was broken and the Muslims marched upon Makkah with over 10,000 men, they entered with no bloodshed. Not a sword was raised in conquest. The enemies of Islam were defeated by its justice, not by cruelty.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

[Hadith,Bukhari & Muslim,"Do not wish to meet the enemy, but if you meet them, then be firm."]

This is our way:

• Patience when oppressed
• Mercy when in power
• Firmness when attacked

And this hadith also teaches us: Peace and protection are earned through obedience to God. Not through race, tribe, or wealth—but through shahadah, salah, and zakah.

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Part Two: Justice Without Transgression

Brothers,

Let us look at another powerful reminder from the Quran:

[Quran,2:190,"Fight in the cause of Allah ˹only˺ against those who wage war against you, but do not exceed the limits. Allah does not like transgressors."]

And:

[Quran,6:82,"It is ˹only˺ those who are faithful and do not taint their faith with wrongdoing who will be secure, and it is they who are ˹rightly˺ guided."]

Islam is not a religion of hatred, but of boundaries.

It does not command us to be enemies with all non-Muslims. In fact, Allah says clearly:

[Quran,60:8-9,"Allah does not forbid you from dealing kindly and fairly with those who have neither fought nor driven you out of your homes. Surely Allah loves those who are fair. Allah only forbids you from befriending those who have fought you for ˹your˺ faith, driven you out of your homes, or supported ˹others˺ in doing so. And whoever takes them as friends, then it is they who are the ˹true˺ wrongdoers."]

This shows:

• The default is kindness and fairness with non-Muslims who live in peace
• But we never ally with those who wage war against Islam or support oppression

[Quote,Ibn Taymiyyah,"Justice must be upheld even with the disbeliever, and oppression is forbidden even against the enemy."]

So as Muslims living in the West:

• If we have religious freedom, we must show Islam through actions and character
• Da'wah is more powerful when shown in integrity, justice, and mercy

But at the same time, we must never become so passive that we allow evil to flourish unopposed. Our religion is complete: it gives guidance in war and peace, in hardship and ease.

When Islam is attacked—verbally or physically—we don't retreat in shame.

We respond with:

• Firmness
• Truth
• Patience
• And mercy

We love Islam without apology.

We do not join unjust systems or wars that contradict Islamic values.

And we do not hide our beliefs just to fit in.

Rather, we hold firm, with mercy and confidence. This dunya is temporary—but our legacy and our akhirah are forever.

So what should we do?

• Understand Islam as a full system, not just rituals
• Practice our religion with consistency—salah, zakah, truthfulness
• Live with honor, even in weakness
• Balance mercy with strength
• Never distort Islam to be soft or harsh—just be just
• Be a walking da'wah with your discipline, mercy, and trustworthiness
• Avoid systems that contradict Islam, especially those involving injustice and bloodshed

[Quote,Umar ibn al-Khattab,"We were the most humiliated people on Earth, and Allah gave us honor through Islam. If we seek honor through anything else, Allah will humiliate us."]

Brothers:

Live like Muslims. Die like Muslims. Don't be ashamed of Islam.

Whether in Palestine, Xinjiang, Kashmir, or even here—oppression will not last.

What matters is: how do you respond?

With faith, dignity, and truth—you walk the path of the Prophet ﷺ. That path leads to Jannah.

O Allah, make us firm upon the truth wherever we are.

O Allah, grant us courage to stand for justice, mercy to forgive, and patience to endure with honor.

O Allah, guide our hearts away from hatred and misguidance, and make us among those who follow Your Prophet ﷺ in every situation.

O Allah, protect the oppressed Muslims around the world, replace their hardship with honor, and their fear with safety.

O Allah, make us of those who establish the salah, give zakah, and die upon tawheed.

O Allah, let us live as Muslims, die as Muslims, and enter Paradise with the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous.

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We ask Allah to make us firm upon His straight path, to guide us and not let us go astray, to have mercy on us and forgive us.

Whatever good was said in this khutbah is from Allah alone, and whatever mistakes or errors are from myself and from Shaytan. I ask Allah to forgive me and you for any shortcomings.

I say these words of mine, and I seek forgiveness from Allah for myself and you all. Seek His forgiveness—indeed, He is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.

[Arabic,أَقُولُ قَوْلِي هَذَا، وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ. ]