Dear Brothers and Sisters! It is clearly stated in the Qur’an that believers are brothers. In Islam, brotherhood is not limited only to being born from the same parents. Allah (swt) informs us that every believer, regardless of language or race, is our brother or sister. At the heart of this brotherhood, which binds us firmly together, is the awareness of being servants of Allah and members of the ummah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saw). In many hadith, it is stated that Muslims must love one another, and that a person cannot truly have complete faith until they wish for their Muslim brother or sister the same goodness they wish for themselves. Our Prophet (saw) always encouraged beautiful deeds to strengthen love among believers, saying: “You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not truly believe until you love one another. Shall I tell you of something which, if you do it, will cause you to love one another? Spread peace among yourselves."[1]

Dear Brothers and Sisters! We are currently celebrating the blessed Eid al-Adha. Alhamdulillah. May our acts of worship be accepted and our Eid be blessed.

Alhamdulillah, Allah (swt) has allowed us to reach yet another Eid al-Adha today. Eid exceptional times when sharing, brotherhood, compassion and solidarity should be felt most strongly.

Dear Brothers and Sisters InshAllah, next Wednesday we will reach Eid al-Adha and perform our qurban sacrifices. Qurban is not merely sacrificing an animal, it is an act of worship, a powerful expression of a servant’s devotion, submission and sincerity towards Allah (swt).

Dear Brothers and Sisters! Islam guides us in making human life meaningful and balanced. One of the most important concepts of this guidance is “patience.”

Dear Brothers and Sisters! Allah (swt) is the One who created us from nothing, watches over us at every moment and knows our needs better than anyone. By nature, human beings are helpless, limited and weak. Although mankind is the most honoured of creation, in times of illness, calamity or helplessness, a person comes to realise just how limited their own power truly is. This realisation opens the door for the servant to turn towards Allah. In this regard, the Qur’an, our guide, states:

Dear Brothers and Sisters! Islam, regards Prophet Ibrahim (as) as one of the Ulul al-‘Azm prophets and he stands as the example of the submission and trust that Allah desires from him. Allah (swt), the All-Powerful, states in the Qur’an regarding Prophet Ibrahim (as):