Hajj: The Great Equalizer; Committing to Fairness & Justice - Maulana Syed Muhammad Rizvi

- Eidul Adha is linked with the rituals of the pilgrimage (Hajj).
- Explanation of the global nature of Islam
- All those who accept Islam, are looked upon by the faith and Allah(s.w.t) equally irrespective of their colour, race, language or the area of the world they come from.
- Explanation of surah Hujraat, aayat 13 where Allah(s.w.t) clearly says that the most honourable amongst people are those who are the most righteous.
- The concept of equality in the eyes of Allah(s.w.t) is reinforced in Islamic teachings like in jamaat salaat.
- In jamaat prayers all around the world, whether you are rich or poor, there is no reserved spots for anyone in the masjid.
- On a broader level the concept of equality is reinforced in the Jumah prayers on a weekly basis.
- The most visible and powerful manifestation of this is in Hajj
- The 'ehram' is not a dress of any nation or tribe in the world.
- In Hajj you get rid of all visible marks of distinction that you have in different ways.
- No matter what colour you are, which part of the world you come from, what nationality you are, which language you speak, you are all the same in the eyes of Allah(s.w.t).
- The message we get in Hajj on a global level, is that we are nothing but an 'abd' of Allah(s.w.t)
- Narration of a part of the khutba that the Prophet gave on his first and last Hajj to all of the Hujjaj reinforcing the same concept of equality and asking to those present to convey the message to those who were abscent.
- This message of the Prophet was not only relevant to his days but its equally relevant to our days.
- The Muslim world and the Western world are both suffering from a racism problem.
- One of the current problems that shows that this message is also relevant to our days, is the way the police treat visible minorities
- Make a commitment on this day to imbibe this concept of equality in the eyes of Allah (s.w.t) in our hearts, minds and work on it.
- The Prophet took some even more drastic steps to enforce this concept of equality in the minds of Arabs.
- When the 'adhaan' (call for prayer) was brought in, he made Bilal ,who was originally from Ethopiya, the 'Muazzin'. People objected because Bilal could not pronounce "sheen".
- The Prophet did this to force the Arabs to realize that there is no difference between black and white and slave and master in the eyes of Allah(s.w.t).
- The Prophet took practical steps to enforce the sense of equality of believers in the eyes of Allah(s.w.t) but unfortunately the Muslims did not learn.
- Narration of the story of Hisham ibne Malik when he went to Mecca for pilgrimage with his soldiers.
- Tragic event that occured during Hajj in Mina. Many pilgrims lost their life due to suffocation caused by road blockage.
- Although there is no reserved spots, people make space for individuals that they love and respect highly.
- Continuation of the story of Hisham bin Malik's pilgrimage
- Narration of the poetry of Farazdaq praising the 4th Imam.

Eid-ul-Adha Khutba
Recited By: Maulana Syed Muhammad Rizvi
Date: September 12th, 2016