Khutbah Jummah（ （12th February 2010） ）

Basic Characteristics of Islam – Part 4 (Islam, the Religion of Ease and Simplicity)

Praise is to Allah who has sent our Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) as a mercy to the entire worlds (men and jinn). All
praise is due to Allah who is the creator of mankind and therefore knows his nature more intricately than mankind
himself. Thus, He has chosen for us a religion best suited to the nature of mankind, a religion of ease.
Dear Brothers in Islam! Let us increase our Taqwa and our Iman, by worshiping Allah Ta`ala.
Islam is a very simple religion with a very clear and simple set of believes and practices. It is also a very easy
religion and never want to place its followers in difficulties or burden them greater that they can bear.
In the previous series of khutbas we talked about some basic characteristic of Islam like divineness,
comprehensiveness, and moderateness. In today`s khutba we are going to examine another character of Islam that
distinguishs it from other man-made systems.
Allah has ordered what is easy. Such easiness is well explained in many versus of the Qur’aan.

Allah, subhanahu wata'aala, said in the Qur’aan in surat Al-Baqara and surat Al-Hajj;
"…Allah intends for you ease, and does not want to make things difficult for you…" (S.2 V.185)
"On no soul doth Allah Place a burden greater than it can bear…" (S.2 V.286)
"…But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits,- then is he
guiltless…" (S2 V173)
"…and has imposed no difficulties on you in religion; …" (S.22 V.78)
The easiness of this religion was put into practice by the best of humanity, the one who came to deliver the message,
our prophet Mohamed salla Allaahu 'alaihe wasallam. When we examine/study his biography, we will find that the
ease and simplicity exist in all his aspects of life. He is ease in his worship, ease in his manner, ease during call
others to Islam, easy with his family, easy with his companions, and even easy with non Muslims.
This understanding is clarified in a hadeeth in which the Prophet, salla Allaahu 'alaihe wasallam, said; "… Allah did
not send me to be harsh, or cause harm, but He sent me to teach and make things easy" (Muslim) And in the
hadeeth reported by his noble and pure wife, 'Aishah, radiya Allahu 'anha, who said; "Whenever the Prophet, salla
Allaahu 'alaihe wasallam, has a choice between two matters, he would choose the easiest, unless it is sinful (act)"
(Bukhari) And also he said: ”Do not overburden yourselves, lest you perish. People [before you] overburdened
themselves and perished.” (Alnessaei, Alalbani).
To further emphasize this understanding to his companions, when once a Bedouin stood up and started urinating in
the mosque, the people caught him; but he, salla Allaahu 'alaihe wasallam, ordered them to leave him and to pour a
bucket or a tumbler of water over the place where he had urinated. The Prophet, salla Allaahu 'alaihe wasallam, then
said, "You have been sent to make things easy and not to make them difficult" (Bukhari)
The history of companions of the prophet Mohamed salla Allaahu 'alaihe wasallam has been lighted by many stories
showing the easiness of Islam. Once Omar bin Alkhatab radiya Allahu 'anha went in journey with one of his
companion and some water fell on his robe from the gutter of some one. Then he asked the owner of the gutter
either his water is clean or not. Then Omar bin Alkhatab said to the owner of the gutter to not inform him and then
they left without confirming about the cleanliness of water.

The easiness of Islam has even been testified by the enemies of Islam. This was apparent in the statement of the
Jews at the time of the Prophet salla Allaahu 'alaihe wasallam, when a man and a woman from amongst them
committed fornication. Some of them said to the others: "Let us go to this Prophet, for he has been sent with an easy
law …". (Abu Dawood)
The easiness of Islam is felt in all of its commandments.
To clarify this point we will consider some example. As example Salah is an act so important and vital to Islam.
Yet, in this worship Allah has also prescribed easiness. At first, the number of prayers was fifty in number, but they
were reduced several times until they were five. Then it was proclaimed 'O Muhammad, the order is not changed.
These five are (equal in reward) to fifty' (Tirmidhi) These five daily prayer is permitted to perform everywhere in
any circumstances. A msulim is required to perform ablution, however, under certain circumstances this
requirement can be substituted by Tayammum or the wiping over the face and hands with clean dust. The sick can
perform it sitting or sleeping in case if he cannot stand. Travelers can combine and shortening prayer which are
contents of four Rak`a…..
Another example fasting, Islam made to ease things for travelers, for the sick, for pregnant or nursing women, with
special rule for each circumstances. Hajj also is required for only who has the ability. The borrower who cannot
return his money does not have to pay Zakat…..etc. Also Islamic Shari`a, the forced person can eat dead
meat…..etc.
From all what was mentioned above, it is clear that Islamic Shar`a was built based on ease and simplicity. But there
are some conditions in order to use this suit character in our life. We can summarize these conditions as follows;
Facilitation and lenience should be taken based on authentic sources from Quran and Sunnah and it should not based
on every one desires and wishes. Also it is prohibited to increase in the facilitation or to cut from it.

Dear Brothers in Islam, the most important point here is to learn from this characteristic that Allah will never burden
his slaves greater than they can do. When we will catch such feeling, then our love towards Allah subhanahu
wata'aala, towards His messengers, His books, should be increased. The love which will direct us towards complete
submission to Allah, complete respecting for His orders, and full acceptance for worshipping Allah subhanahu
wata'aala.
Let us pray Allah S.W.T. that He give us Taufiq to act upon the teachings of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W.

May Allah save us from Miserliness.

May Allah give us ability and Taufiq to spend sincerely in the path of Allah.
O! Allaah use us for upholding the Name of Allah and spreading Islam in Japan and may guidance of Islamic faith
prevail in Japan and in the world. Aameen.