Khutbah 1: The Importance of Wisdom in Islam
َأ
الحمد لله والَّص الُة َو الَّس الُم َعَلى َر ُس وِل الله َو َعَلى آِلِه َوَص ْح ِبِه ْج َم ِعيَن.
Dear respected brothers and sisters in Islam,
One of the greatest blessings Allah bestows upon His servants is wisdom (Al-Hikmah).
Allah says:
( ُيْؤ ِتي اِلِح ْكَم َة َمْن َيَش اُء َو َمْن ُيْؤ َت اِلِح ْكَم َة َفَق ْد ُأوتَي َخ ْيًر ا َكِثيًر ا
)2:269
"He grants wisdom to whom He wills, and whoever is granted wisdom has indeed been
given abundant good."
Wisdom (Al-Hikma) is one of the attributes of Exalted Allah. It is a great
blessing which Allah bestows upon whoever He pleases. Wisdom has many
interpretations (meanings) in the Holy Quran. In some Verses, it may denote beneficial
knowledge. Allah, the Exalted says in the Quran: ”We bestowed wisdom on Luqman:
Show (your) gratitude to Allah.”(3:12). The same word, wisdom, is used in other Verses
to mean prophethood as Allah refers to Prophet Dawood: ”And Allah gave him power and
wisdom and taught him whatever (else) He willed.”(2:251).
Wisdom is the ability to judge correctly, act rightly, and make decisions that are best for
our faith and worldly affairs. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the
embodiment of wisdom in his dealings with people, whether in diplomacy, leadership, or
personal relationships.
A close contemplation of the honorable life of Prophet Muhammad SAWSreveals his
wisdom and competence in dealing with people and resolving their problems. He
prevented, through his wisdom, an imminent war between the clans of the Quraysh
during the reconstruction of the Ka’aba. Each clan claimed the honor of putting the
sacred Black Stone in its place. However, the future Prophet (peace be upon him) spread
his mantle on a piece of cloth on the ground and putting the stone on it, invited the
chieftains of the four major clans of the Quraysh to each take one corner of the cloth. It
was an ingenious plan and provided yet another proof of his wisdom or gift for problem-
solving.
When He became the Prophet and Messenger of Allah, He showed his wisdom in dealing
with both Muslims and non-Muslims. The migration to Medina, despite its great
significance in the history of Islam, was not an easy thing to achieve. The Prophet SAWS
took wise steps to establish brotherhood between Muslims and signed a pact with Jews.
He succeeded in establishing a secure, stable and merciful society in Medina. Indeed, the
Prophet SAWS was following the divine path as Allah says in the Holy Quran:” Invite
(mankind, O Muhammad) to the way of your Lord (i.e.Islam) with wisdom and fair
preaching.”(16:125).
Brothers and sisters,
Wisdom prevents man from committing wrong actions and guides him to take the right
way. It gives him a wide perspective on everything in life, deepens his understanding,
increases his awareness of the surrounding circumstances so he may reach the right and
correct deeds and words.
The root verb of Hikma in Arabic language is Hakama which literally means to pronounce
or deliver a judgment against or in favor of someone. Wisdom can also mean knowledge
gained over a long period of time through learning, or good sense and judgment.
Wisdom may also mean perfection and excellence.
Let us reflect on our own actions. Are we making decisions with wisdom? Are we handling
conflicts with patience and understanding? True wisdom is found in following the Quran
and Sunnah.
May Allah grant us wisdom in our affairs. Ameen.
Break
َأ
الحمد لله والَّصالُة َوالَّس الُم َعَلى َر ُس وِل الله َوَعَلى آِلِه َوَصْح ِبِه ْج َمِعيَن.
Dear brothers and sisters,
Wisdom is not only about knowledge but also about knowing when to speak and
when to remain silent. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or remain
silent." (Bukhari & Muslim)
Wisdom is needed in all aspects of life:
1. In Speech: Choosing words carefully to avoid hurting others.
2. In Family Life: Being patient and resolving disputes with kindness.
3. In Leadership: Making decisions that benefit the community.
4. In Worship: Balancing religious duties with daily responsibilities.
Marital disputes, for example, can be resolved through wisdom. It is crucial to resort to
wisdom in resolving marital disputes or misunderstanding to keep love and mercy alive
among the two partners. Wisdom may be the turning point that may save families and
enable them to retain their coherence and stability. Hasty decisions lead to regret, but
seeking wise counsel can save families from breakdown. Prudent and wise leadership
and people are the guaranteed path toward development and prosperity.
O servants of Allah,
We are all eager to build coherent societies and highly developed nations. We implore
Allah SWT to bestow us wisdom in deeds and words, and we ask Him to help us obey Him
and those He has ordained us to obey. May Allah make the Quran the light of our heart.
May Allah make us among those who recite the Quran and apply its rulings. O Allah make
us of the followers of the Sunnah of the Prophet SAWS
"O Allah, grant us wisdom and guidance in our words and actions."
May Allah grant us the ability to act with wisdom in our lives. Ameen.
