The Time Of The Strangers

The people are taking off their clothes, and we're putting them on. The people are supposedly enjoying themselves, at this time, next weekend, drinking alcohol and taking drugs, and it looks like they are smiling but it's only a chemical-based smile, a few hours later you have terrible headache, and maybe get involved in an accident (wali 'auzhubillah). It's an illusion. So when we avoid alcohol and drugs, when we protect our private parts and not involve in fornication and adultery, a man respects a woman, the woman respects herself, and not allow herself to be abused by anybody. When we reach this level, we are gonna to feel strange. We are gonna to feel really strange. We don't take interest in the bank. The person...the banker says, 'Here's your interest, Mr. Abdul.' And Abdullah said, 'No, I don't want the interest.' They said, 'This is strange.'

You know what the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said? 

'Islam began strange, and it will return to being strange, so glad tidings to the strangers.' They asked him, 'O Messenger of Allah! Who are the Ghuraba?'

And he (Peace be upon him) told them...

'They are those who rectify themselves, they repair themselves when the people have become corrupted.'

This is the time of the Ghuraba, it is a feeling of strangeness within ourselves in the society but it is closeness to Allah (subahaanahu wa ta'ala). If we are able to carry out these actions, to remember Allah ('azzawajal), protect our prayers, to have the Khusoo (the humility) to protect our private parts, to give our Zakaat, to carry out our actions, to fulfill our trusts, our covenant, and the greatest Covenant, the greatest Oath and Covenant is 'La Ilaha Illallah.' To fulfill all what is needed to worship one God. We will feel strange but the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, "These are the people who are strangers, those who repair themselves when the society becomes corrupted."

And so I pray that Allah (subahaanahu wa ta'ala) would bless the younger people who are here today and the younger people of the Ummah of Muhammad (Peace be upon him), may Allah bless them, and help this nation to change.

By Sheikh Abdullah Hakim Quick