16/10/2026
This weeks Khutbah at Murrayside:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
All praise belongs to Allah, who has explained wisdom in His Book and called His servants towards reflection, contemplation and understanding. We bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner. We bear witness that our master and leader, Muhammad, is His servant and Messenger, the one who guided us to the Quran. May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him, his family and his noble companions.
Dear brothers and sisters in Islam,
Allah, the Most High, has commanded us to reflect upon His creation and contemplate the signs of His greatness. Through reflection and understanding, we are able to recognise the wisdom, power and mercy of our Creator.
Allah says in the Holy Quran:
"Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, are signs for people of understanding."
This reminds us that the world around us is not without purpose. Every aspect of creation contains signs that point towards the greatness and wisdom of Allah.
Allah also says:
"Do they not look at the sky above them, how We have built it and adorned it?"
We are encouraged to look beyond our daily concerns and recognise the extraordinary creation that surrounds us.
Allah has created the heavens and the earth, the mountains, the seas and the many wonders of nature. He has provided us with countless blessings, many of which we take for granted.
He has made the earth a place of settlement for us, provided rivers and pathways, and placed mountains upon it. He has given us the night for rest and the day for our activities and livelihoods.
Allah has also sent down rain from the heavens, bringing life to the earth and producing fruits, vegetation and provisions for His creation.
These are not merely natural occurrences. They are reminders of Allah's mercy, generosity and absolute power.
Allah says:
"And We made the night as a covering, and made the day for livelihood."
He also reminds us of the rain that descends from the clouds, through which He brings forth vegetation and sustenance.
Reflecting upon the creation of the human being
Allah calls upon mankind to reflect not only upon the heavens and the earth, but also upon our own creation.
He says:
"We have certainly created man in the best of stature."
The human being is itself an extraordinary sign of Allah's power. From our earliest beginnings, Allah develops and shapes us through stages until we become complete human beings.
Allah reminds us of these stages of creation, beginning from a small drop, followed by the development of the human form, until life emerges by His will.
Every stage demonstrates the knowledge, wisdom and power of our Creator.
We should therefore never allow pride or arrogance to make us forget our humble beginnings.
Our intelligence, abilities, strength and achievements are all blessings granted by Allah.
The importance of reflection and gratitude
Dear brothers and sisters, the purpose of reflecting upon creation is not simply to admire its beauty.
It is to strengthen our faith, increase our gratitude and bring us closer to Allah.
When we look towards the heavens, observe the changing seasons, witness the growth of plants or consider the complexity of our own bodies, we should remember the One who created and sustains everything.
The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, encouraged reflection upon the creation of Allah.
It is reported that he said:
"Reflect upon the creation of Allah."
Such reflection reminds us that nothing in this world exists independently of Allah's knowledge and power.
We should not become so occupied with worldly affairs that we neglect the signs of our Creator.
Instead, we should use our intellect, our senses and our hearts to recognise His blessings and fulfil our responsibilities towards Him.
The Quran calls us to think and understand
Allah repeatedly invites mankind to observe, reflect and use reason.
He asks us to consider the heavens and the earth, the movement of the sun and moon, the changing of night and day, and the life that emerges from the earth.
These signs are present before us every day, yet we often overlook them.
It is narrated that Abdullah ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, reflected upon the verses concerning the creation of the heavens and the earth.
This teaches us that contemplation is an important part of faith.
The more sincerely we reflect upon Allah's creation, the more we recognise our dependence upon Him.
We come to understand that our lives, our provisions and our very existence are entirely within His control.
Remembering Allah's mercy and the resurrection
The khutbah concludes by reminding us of another important sign of Allah's power.
Allah says:
"So observe the effects of Allah's mercy, how He gives life to the earth after its death. Indeed, that same One will give life to the dead, and He is Most Capable of everything."
Just as Allah revives barren land through rainfall, He has the power to resurrect mankind after death.
The changing condition of the earth is therefore a reminder not only of Allah's mercy in this life, but also of the reality of the Hereafter.
We should reflect upon this and prepare ourselves through faith, gratitude, obedience and righteous deeds.
===
Central Message of Today's Khutbah
Today's khutbah reminds us that the entire creation is filled with signs of Allah's greatness, wisdom and mercy.
The heavens, the earth, the mountains, the rain, the changing of night and day, and even our own existence are reminders of the One who created and sustains everything.
Islam encourages us to think, observe, question and reflect, because sincere reflection strengthens our faith and deepens our understanding of Allah.
We must not become so consumed by our daily lives that we overlook the countless blessings surrounding us.
True reflection should lead to gratitude, humility, stronger faith and greater obedience to Allah.
Just as Allah brings life to the earth after its death, He will resurrect us and hold us accountable for how we lived.
May Allah grant us hearts that recognise His blessings, minds that reflect upon His creation, and tongues that remain grateful for His mercy.
May He protect us from arrogance, heedlessness and ingratitude, strengthen our Imaan, guide us towards righteous deeds and grant us success in this life and the Hereafter.
Ameen.