Heroic Stands by Shiekh Abu Nizhar Ash Shaami: HudHud - International Political Da’wah

Our lives are a collection of stands taken. These stands are what will decide our status and value before Allah (swt) on the Day of Judgement. Heroic stands, which changed the course of history, produced events, and greatly influenced all who witnessed them or heard of them. Heroic stands, which we mention while living at a time when most stands, we see are those of humiliation and shame. Heroic stands, we mention them whose heroes are mentioned in the Quran, and the pages of the Seerah and our Ummah's past and recent history are overflowing with them. Heroic stands, which we mention in order to take lessons from. We mention them in order to receive flames of glory, optimism, and expecting good from Allah (swt), and to prove that our Ummah, by the permission of Allah (swt), is capable of bringing back the dignified stands which will fill the world with justice and light after it was filled with injustice and tyranny.

The hero of our story today is not a prophet, nor a Sahabi, nor a righteous man or woman. Would you believe that the heroic stand taken in our story today was not by a human being? My brothers, there are lines of Jinn standing, animals and birds, all are waiting for the king. The king arrives and inspects the lines. When inspecting the line of birds, he says: "Why do I not see the hoopoe - or is he among the absent? I will surely punish him with a severe punishment or slaughter him unless he brings me clear authorization." Where did this HudHud go - the HudHud of Sayyiduna Sulayman (as) - whilst knowing the gravity of leaving the line? There was something on the mind of this HudHud that was irking him. He flew over Palestine, leaving a very prosperous kingdom that will never be given to anyone else and also has the Deen since its king was the Prophet of Allah (swt). None of this made him lazy and content with individualistic living at home. He rather launched himself above Palestine and flew and crossed the Arabian Peninsula from one side to another, travelling thousands of miles. Then he immediately returned with a detailed report. "But he [i.e., the HudHud] stayed not long" and stood in front of Sulayman (as). A scene which would scare the Jinn. He said: "I have encompassed [in knowledge] that which you have not encompassed, and I have come to you from Sheba (in Yemen) with certain news. Indeed, I found [there] a woman ruling them, and she has been given of all things, and she has a great throne." He was really annoyed; how can there be a throne that rules by other than what Allah (swt) revealed? Then he went on as if he was complaining about a problem of his own: "so they do not prostrate to Allah (swt), who brings forth what is hidden within the heavens and the earth and knows what you conceal and what you declare - Allah (swt) - there is no deity except Him, Lord of the Great Throne." He twice mentioned a "great throne" in his report as if to say that he wants Sayyiduna Sualayman to move and not accept the presence of a land or a throne on the planet that rules by other than what Allah (swt) revealed. Immediately, my brothers, Sayyiduna Sulayman (as) received the report, postponed the punishment, and promoted this soldier to being an ambassador. "Take this letter of mine and deliver it to them. Then leave them and see what [answer] they will return." The HudHud then departs on the same journey again that is surrounded by dangers and risks. The HudHud went but Sayyiduna Sulayman (as) was worried. He (as) just heard that there is another throne that rules by other than what Allah (swt) has revealed. He (as) looked at those present with him and said: "which of you will bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?" "A powerful one from among the jinn said, "I will bring it to you before you rise from your place"" So roughly after an hour. Sayyiduna Sulayman (as) did not accept and was not comfortable with that and wanted it faster. "Said one who had knowledge from the Scripture, "I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you." And when [Solomon] saw it placed before him, he said, "This is from the favor of my Lord"" Now, my brothers, Sayyiduna Sulayman (as) could relax. And it is only a few quick scenes later when the Queen of Sheba, who worshipped the sun, was at the doorstep of Sulayman's (as) palace entering and saying: "My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, and I submit with Sulayman to Allah, Lord of the worlds."

Who is the hero of the story? Who is the hero of this scene? It is that great HudHud, the international Dawah carrier. My brothers, we learn from the story of the HudHud of Sayyiduna Sulayman (as) that the Dawah carrier should not limit himself to reforming the self. Rather, he should seek to reform the self, the society and the state. Not to limit himself to private individualistic spiritual Dawah that many call us too today unfortunately. We learn about international political Dawah to bring all peoples and lands into Islam. We learn that ruling by what Allah (swt) revealed and working to remove any other throne or rule on Earth must be the objective of every Muslims who calls to Allah (swt). We learn about the marvelous harmony between ruler and ruled upon the same message. This is why the HudHud was not afraid. He (as) knew that the ruler and ruled will co-operate to spread one message and one Dawah across the world. My brothers, how many thrones are there today that rule by other than what Allah (swt) revealed? How many countries are there that do not prostrate to Allah (swt) in their laws and legislation? When Allah (swt) records this story in the Quran, He is telling you and me to have the same stance of that HudHud and the great determination that he had. So, do we have enthusiasts who have an international political and creedal Dawah working to bring the whole world [into Islam] and to bring down all thrones that rule by other than what Allah (swt) revealed?

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