07/11/2025
Jumu‘ah Khutbah Title:
Religion — A Divine Path to Protect and Unite Humanity
Khutbah (Part One):
Alhamdulillāh, all praise is due to Allāh — the Lord of all the worlds, who sent His Prophets and Messengers as guides and protectors of humanity. We bear witness that there is no god but Allāh, and that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is His servant and final Messenger.
My dear brothers and sisters in faith,
Nigeria — our beloved nation — is blessed with diversity: of people, tribes, and religions. Yet, what pain it is to see how religion, which is meant to unite and uplift humanity, is sometimes used to divide, oppress, or play foul with human dignity and justice.
Allāh, the Most High, did not send religion as a weapon of hatred or manipulation. He sent it as a mercy and a light for all creation.
Allāh says in the Holy Qur’ān:
> “O mankind! We created you from a single soul, and from it We created its mate; and from the two of them spread many men and women…”
— Surah An-Nisā’ (4:1)
And He also says:
> “O mankind! We have created you from male and female, and made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another. Indeed, the most honorable of you in the sight of Allāh is the most righteous among you.”
— Surah Al-Ḥujurāt (49:13)
These verses remind us that the purpose of diversity is recognition, not division; beauty, not conflict.
Religion is a divine system designed to protect humanity from its own errors, to guide our predestined paths with wisdom and light. Every Prophet — from Ādam (A.S.) to our beloved Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) — was sent to correct, protect, and perfect human behavior, teaching us to acknowledge our Creator and live in peace and unity.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
> “The most beloved of people to Allah are those who are most beneficial to people.”
— [Al-Mu‘jam Al-Awsat, 6/139]
True religion manifests in good conduct, compassion, and service to others — not in mere rituals or religious competition.
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Khutbah (Part Two):
Sufi scholars, the lovers of Divine truth, have always reminded us that the essence of religion is love.
Shaykh Ahmad Tijani (R.A.) said:
> “Religion without love is like a body without soul.”
Shaykh Ibrahim Niyas (R.A.) taught that:
> “Our worship must reflect mercy towards creation, for he who harms creation cannot claim to love the Creator.”
Thus, if our practice of religion causes hatred, discrimination, or bloodshed, then we have missed the very purpose for which Allah gave us religion — to build peace, not break it.
Let us remember that peace and unity are not optional virtues; they are divine obligations. Allāh says:
> “And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together, and do not become divided.”
— Surah Āl ‘Imrān (3:103)
My dear brothers and sisters, Nigeria can only prosper when we uphold the true essence of our religions — when Muslims, Christians, and people of all faiths see each other as fellow humans created from the same soul.
Let us use our religion to heal, not to harm; to uplift, not to oppress; to build, not to destroy.
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Du‘ā (Closing Prayer):
O Allāh,
Unite our hearts and our nation.
Protect us from the misuse of religion and the corruption of the soul.
Make us among those who live by peace, truth, and love for all creation.
Grant us leaders and scholars who guide with sincerity, and hearts that seek only You.
Āmīn.
From the Office of Sheikh li-Islam Al-Haaj Mukadam Muhammad Awwal Ayinla Otolorin Baba Gbogbo Aye.
Department: Rijaal Al-awwaliyyah Media
Khutubah from: Sheikh Mukadam Habeebullah Adeniyi Olukolu-ZB Abolade (Amirul-Aoliyah/Baba Gbogbo Ayanfe Olohun/BABA AWORI)
