Watch the video: https://youtube.com/live/d4B3rUHb7zU

Table of Contents

• Topic: The story of Jurayj and the infant who spoke miraculously
• Story of Jurayj and the Baby
• Jurayj builds a hermitage
• His mother’s dua
• The conspiracy against Jurayj
• The false accusation
• The truth is revealed
• Jurayj regains honor
• Lessons from the story
• 1 Balancing Din and Dunya
• 2 Balancing the rights of parents with yours
• 3 Balancing the rights of others and the community
• 4 Showing patience during test and trials
• 5 Miracles bring about balance during injustice
• 6 Balancing needs vs. wants
• 7 Balance of Allah protecting you when you protect Allah's rights
• 8 Balance of higher stations with severe trials
• 9 Infants who spoke miraculously

Topic: The story of Jurayj and the infant who spoke miraculously

This khutbah recounts the Islamic story of Jurayj, a devout worshiper who faced a significant trial when he prioritized prayer over answering his mother's repeated calls. Angered, his mother prayed that he would not die until he saw the faces of prostitutes, a seemingly damning curse. Later, a prostitute falsely accused Jurayj of fathering her child, leading to his public humiliation and the destruction of his hermitage. However, Jurayj miraculously made the infant speak, revealing the true father was a shepherd, thus clearing his name. The text concludes by outlining several lessons learned from the narrative, emphasizing the importance of honoring parents above even prayer, the gravity of false accusations and conspiracies, and the significance of patience and reliance on Allah during hardships, as trials can ultimately elevate one's spiritual standing and lead to divine relief. Additionally, it highlights the concept of balancing spiritual devotion with societal duties.

• ﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنْ تَتَّقُوا اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ فُرْقَانًا وَيُكَفِّرْ عَنْكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ ۝﴾ (سُورَةُ الأنفَال ٨:٢٩)

8:29 O you who have believed, if you fear Allah, He will grant you a decisive authority and will remove from you your misdeeds and forgive you. And Allah is the possessor of great bounty. 30 And ˹remember, O Muhammad˺, when those who disbelieved plotted against you to restrain you or kill you or evict you ˹from Makkah˺. But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners.

Story of Jurayj and the Baby

Following is combined narration from Bukhari, Muslim, Ahmad, al-Adab al-Mufrad other sources with selected narratives. Note that, there are other minor variations in this narrative and the following combined narrative attempts to construct the details of only one of the narratives.

References: bukhari:2482, bukhari:3436, bukhari:1206, muslim:2550a, muslim:2550b, adab:33, ahmad:9603, ahmad:8994, ahmad:8071,ahmad:8072, ibnhibban:6489, tabarani:15709

Quran: Stories help believers learn lessons

• ﴿…فَاقْصُصِ الْقَصَصَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ ۝﴾ (سُورَةُ الأعرَاف ٧:١٧٦)

7:176 …So relate the stories that perhaps they will give thought.

Jurayj builds a hermitage

~~كَانَ فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ رَجُلٌ يُقَالُ لَهُ جُرَيْجٌ وَكَانَ جُرَيْجٌ رَجُلاً عَابِدًا وَتَاجِرًا وَكَانَ يَنْقُصُ مَرَّةً وَيَزِيدُ أُخْرَى قَالَ مَا فِي هَذِهِ التِّجَارَةِ خَيْرٌ لَأَلْتَمِسُ تِجَارَةً هِيَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ هَذِهِ فَبَنَى صَوْمَعَةً وَتَرَهَّبَ فِيهَا.~~

There was a man among the Children of Israel named Jurayj, who was a devout worshiper and also a merchant. His trade would sometimes profit and sometimes suffer loss. So he said, "There is no good in this trade. Let me pursue a trade better than this." So he built a hermitage and withdrew there for worship.

His mother’s dua

فَأَتَتْهُ أُمُّهُ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ وَكَانَ جُرَيْجٌ يَتَعَبَّدُ فِي صَوْمَعَةٍ وَهُوَ يُصَلِّي. جَعَلَتْ كَفَّهَا فَوْقَ حَاجِبِهَا. ثُمَّ رَفَعَتْ رَأْسَهَا إِلَيْهِ تَدْعُوهُ. فَقَالَتْ يَا جُرَيْجُ بُنَيَّ أَشْرِفْ عَلَيَّ أُكَلِّمْكَ أَنَا أُمُّكَ. فَصَادَفَتْهُ يُصَلِّي وَلا يَقْطعُ صَلاتَهُ. فَقَالَ يَا رَبِّ أُمِّي وَصَلاَتِي؟ فَأَقْبَلَ عَلَى صَلاَتِهِ فَانْصَرَفَتْ. فَلَمَّا كَانَ مِنَ الْغَدِ أَتَتْهُ وَهُوَ يُصَلِّي فَقَالَتْ يَا جُرَيْجُ فَقَالَ يَا رَبِّ أُمِّي وَصَلاَتِي؟ فَأَقْبَلَ وَلا يَقْطعُ صَلاتَهُ فَانْصَرَفَتْ.
فَلَمَّا كَانَ مِنَ الْغَدِ أَتَتْهُ وَهُوَ يُصَلِّي فَقَالَتْ يَا جُرَيْجُ فَقَالَ أَىْ رَبِّ أُمِّي وَصَلاَتِي؟ فَأَقْبَلَ عَلَى صَلاَتِهِ. فَقَالَتِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّ هَذَا جُرَيْجٌ وَهُوَ ابْنِي وَإِنِّي كَلَّمْتُهُ فَأَبَى أَنْ يُكَلِّمَنِي اللَّهُمَّ لاَ تُمِتْهُ حَتَّى يَنْظُرَ إِلَى وُجُوهِ الْمُومِسَاتِ وَلَوْ دَعَتْ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يُفْتَنَ لَفُتِنَ.

One day his mother came to him while he was in his hermitage praying. She shaded her eyes with her hand, lifted her head toward him, and called out, "O Jurayj, my son, come out and speak to me! I am your mother!" But she found him engaged in prayer and not breaking it. He said, "O Lord! My mother or my prayer?" He chose to continue his prayer, so she left. The next day she returned while he was again praying and called, "O Jurayj!" He said again, "O Lord! My mother or my prayer?" And he continued praying. She went away again.

On the third day, she came again while he was praying and called out: "O Jurayj!"
He again said, "O Lord! My mother or my prayer?" And he chose his prayer once more. So she said, "O Allah! This is Jurayj, my son. I called him, and he refused to speak to me. O Allah, do not let him die until he has looked upon the faces of prostitutes!" And had she supplicated that he be tested, he would have been afflicted.

The conspiracy against Jurayj

فَتَذَاكَرَ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ جُرَيْجًا وَعِبَادَتَهُ وَكَانَ أَهْلُ الْقَريةِ يعظّمون الزِّنَا إِعْظَامًا شَدِيدًا. وَكَانَتِ امْرَأَةٌ بَغِيٌّ يُتَمَثَّلُ بِحُسْنِهَا. فَقَالَتْ: جريجاً بَغِيٌّ مِنْ بَغَايَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ فَقَالَتْ: إِنْ شِئْتُمْ لأَفْتِنَنَّهُ لَكُمْ. فَقَالُوا قَدْ شِئْنَا.
وَكَانَ جُرَيْجٌ فِي صَوْمَعَتِهِ فَتَعَرَّضَتْ لَهُ امْرَأَةٌ وَكَلَّمَتْهُ فَأَبَى وَلَمْ يَلْتَفِتْ إِلَيْهَا.
وَكَانَتْ تَأْوِي إِلَى صَوْمَعَتِهِ رَاعِيَةٌ تَرْعَى الْغَنَمَ. فَأَتَتْ رَاعِيًا وَكَانَ رَاعِيَ بَقَرٍ يَأْوِي إِلَى أَسْفَلِ صَوْمَعَتِهِ. فَأَمْكَنَتْهُ مِنْ نَفْسِهَا فَوَقَعَ عَلَيْهَا فَأَصَابَتْ فَاحِشَةً فَحَمَلَتْ فَوَلَدَتْ غُلاَمًا.

The Children of Israel began to speak about Jurayj and his worship. The people of the town greatly condemned and shunned adultery. Among them was a well-known prostitute, famous for her beauty. She said, "Shall I not tempt Jurayj for you?" They replied, "Yes, we wish that."

Jurayj was in his hermitage, and the woman approached him, spoke to him, but he rejected her and did not even turn toward her.

Nearby, there was a shepherdess who grazed her sheep around his hermitage. So the prostitute went to a cowherd who also stayed at the base of Jurayj’s hermitage and gave herself to him. He slept with her, and she committed a shameful act and became pregnant. Later, she gave birth to a boy.

The false accusation

فَأُتِيَ الْمَلِكُ بِتِلْكَ الْمَرْأَةِ وَلَدَتْ فَقَالَ مِمَّنْ؟ قَالَتْ مِنْ جُرَيْجٍ قَالَ أَصَاحِبُ الصَّوْمَعَةِ؟ قَالَتْ نَعَمْ. قَالَ اهْدِمُوا صَوْمَعَتَهُ وَأْتُونِي بِهِ.
فَجَاءُوا بِفُئُوسِهِمْ وَمَسَاحِيهِمْ وَالْمُرُورِهِمۡ فَنَادَوهُ يَا جُرَيْجُ، فَجَعَلَ يَقُولُ: يَا رَبِّ قَوْمِي وَصَلاِتي؟، فَصَادَفُوهُ يُصَلِّي وَجَعَلَ لا يُكَلِّمهمُ. وَكَسَرُوا وَهَدَمُوا صَوْمَعَتَهُ. فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ فَقَالَ مَا شَأْنُكُمْ؟ قَالُوا زَنَيْتَ بِهَذِهِ الْبَغِيِّ فَوَلَدَتْ مِنْكَ. فَأَنْزَلُوهُ وَسَبُّوهُ وَجَعَلُوا يَضْرِبُونَهُ حَتَّى وَقَعَتْ فَجَعَلُوا يَدَهُ إِلَى عُنُقِهِ بِحَبْلٍ ثُمَّ انْطُلِقَ بِهِ فَمَرَّ بِهِ عَلَى الْمُومِسَاتِ فَرَآهُنَّ فَتَبَسَّمَ وَهُنَّ يَنْظُرْنَ إِلَيْهِ فِي النَّاسِ.

The matter reached the king. The woman was brought before him, and he asked her, "From whom is this child?" She replied, "From Jurayj." He asked, "The one from the hermitage?" She said, "Yes." So the king ordered, "Tear down his hermitage and bring him to me."

So they came with axes and hammers and digging tools, called out to him, "O Jurayj!" But he said, "O Lord, my people and my prayer!" They found him in prayer and he did not respond. So they broke down and destroyed his hermitage. After praying two units of prayer Jurayj said, "What is the matter with you?" They said, "You committed adultery with this prostitute and she gave birth to your child."

They put a rope around his neck and led him through the streets. As he passed by the prostitutes, he saw them and smiled, while they stared at him among the crowd.

The truth is revealed

فَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ مَا تَزْعُمُ هَذِهِ؟ قَالَ مَا تَزْعُمُ؟ قَالَ تَزْعُمُ أَنَّ وَلَدَهَا مِنْكَ. قَالَ أَنْتِ تَزْعُمِينَ؟ قَالَتْ نَعَمْ. فَقَالَ أَيْنَ الصَّبِيُّ؟ فَجَاءُوا بِهِ. فَقَالَ دَعُونِي حَتَّى أُصَلِّيَ فَتَوَضَّأَ وَصَلَّى. ثُمَّ أَتَى الصَّبِيَّ فَتَبَسَّمَ ثُمَّ مَسَحَ رَأْسَ الصَّبِيِّ أو طَعَنَ فِي بَطْنِهِ وَقَالَ يَا غُلاَمُ مَنْ أَبُوكَ؟ قَالَ أَنَا ابْنُ الرَّاعِي.
فَأَقْبَلُوا عَلَى جُرَيْجٍ يُقَبِّلُونَهُ وَيَتَمَسَّحُونَ بِهِ.

The king asked, "What does this woman claim?" He replied, "What does she claim?" They said, "She claims the child is from you." He asked her, "Do you claim this?" She replied, "Yes." He said, "Where is the child?"

So they brought the boy. He said, "Let me pray first." He performed ablution and prayed. Then he approached the boy, smiled, and either rubbed his head or pressed on his stomach and said, "O boy, who is your father?" The boy said, "My father is the shepherd."

The people rushed to Jurayj, kissing him and rubbing themselves on him (for blessing).

Jurayj regains honor

قَالَ الْمَلِكُ أَنَجْعَلُ صَوْمَعَتَكَ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ؟ قَالَ لاَ قَالَ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ؟ قَالَ لاَ قَالَ فَمَا نَجْعَلُهَا؟ قَالَ رُدُّوهَا وَأَعِيدُوهَا مِنْ طِينٍ كَمَا كَانَتْ. فَفَعَلُوا ثُمَّ عَلاَهُ.
قَالَ المَلِك وَلِمَ ضَحِكْتَ وَنَحْنُ نُرِيدُ بِكَ مَا نُريد مِنْ القَتْلِ والشِّتْمِ؟ قَالَ: ذَكْرتُ دَعْوَةَ وَالِدتِي حَتَّى أَنْظُر فِي أَعْيُنِ الْمُومِسِاتِ، وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَوْ دَعْوتُ اللهَ أَنْ يُخْزِيهُ لأَخْزَاهُ، وَلكِنَّها دَعَتْ أَن يَنْظُر فَنَظَر.

The king said, "Shall we rebuild your hermitage from gold?" He replied, "No." The king said, "From silver?" He said, "No." The king asked, "Then from what?" He said, "Return it and rebuild it from mud, just as it was." So they did so and he climbed back up to it.

Later the king asked him, "Why did you laugh when we were preparing to kill and curse you?" He replied, "I remembered my mother’s supplication: that I would not die until I looked at the faces of prostitutes. By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, had she prayed that I be disgraced, I would have been disgraced. But she merely asked that I look—and I have looked."

Lessons from the story

1 Balancing Din and Dunya

No better trade than the worship of Allah

• ﴿فِي بُيُوتٍ أَذِنَ اللَّهُ أَنْ تُرْفَعَ وَيُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ فِيهَا بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ ۝ رِجَالٌ لَا تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجَارَةٌ وَلَا بَيْعٌ عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ ۙ يَخَافُونَ يَوْمًا تَتَقَلَّبُ فِيهِ الْقُلُوبُ وَالْأَبْصَارُ ۝ لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنَ مَا عَمِلُوا وَيَزِيدَهُمْ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَرْزُقُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ ۝﴾ (سُورَةُ النُّور ٢٤:٣٦)

24:36 ˹Such niches are˺ in mosques which Allah has ordered to be raised and that His name be mentioned therein; exalting Him within them in the morning and the evenings 37 ˹Are˺ men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah and performance of prayer and giving of zakah. They fear a Day in which the hearts and eyes will ˹fearfully˺ turn about - 38 That Allah may reward them ˹according to˺ the best of what they did and increase them from His bounty. And Allah gives provision to whom He wills without account.

Hadith: Not avoiding people and being patient with them is better

• «الْمُسْلِمَ إِذَا كَانَ يُخَالِطَ النَّاسَ وَيَصْبِرُ عَلَى أَذَاهُمْ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِ الَّذِي لاَ يُخَالِطُ النَّاسَ وَلاَ يَصْبِرُ عَلَى أَذَاهُمْ» (الترمذي ٢٥٠٧ صحيح)

The Muslim who mixes with the people and he is patient with their harm is better than the Muslim who does not mix with the people and is not patient with their harm.

Jurayj's worship in the hermitage

• Islam is a religion of balance
• Imbalance: Only worldly life and no worship.
• Islam is not a religion of solitary worship alone.
• It is contribution to the society.
• Imbalance: Only worship and avoiding people.
• Requires going through further tests and trials.
• The Prophet ﷺ never isolated himself in solitary worship after prophethood.

2 Balancing the rights of parents with yours

Hadith: Jurayj was a worshipper and not a scholar

• «"لَوْ كَانَ جُرَيجٌ الرَّاهِبُ فَقِيهًا عَالِمًا لَعِلمَ أن إِجَابته دُعَاءَ أُمِّه أَوْلَى مِنْ عِبَادَةِ ربِّه".» (السيوطي ١٧٩٣٠a لا نعرف حكم له)

If Jurayj, the monk, had been a knowledgeable jurist, he would have known that responding to his mother's call is more important than the ˹him voluntarily˺ worshiping his Lord."

Hadith: Being good to parents is their right after Allah's worship

• ﴿وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِنْدَكَ الْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُلْ لَهُمَا أُفٍّ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُلْ لَهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيمًا ۝﴾ (سُورَةُ الإسْرَاء ١٧:٢٣)

17:23 And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age ˹while˺ with you, say not to them ˹so much as˺, "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.

Hadith: What Allah loves most is performing Salah at its time, then dutifulness to parents, then jihad

• «سَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ أَىُّ الْعَمَلِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: «الصَّلاَةُ عَلَى وَقْتِهَا۔» قَالَ: ثُمَّ أَىُّ؟ قَالَ: «ثُمَّ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ۔» قَالَ: ثُمَّ أَىُّ؟ قَالَ: «الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ۔»» (البخاري ٥٢٧ متفق عليه)

I asked the Prophet ﷺ "Which deed is the dearest to Allah?" He replied, "To offer the prayers at their early stated fixed times." I asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?" He replied, "To be good and dutiful to your parents" I again asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?" He replied, 'To participate in Jihad (religious fighting) in Allah's cause." ʿAbdullah added, "I asked only that much and if I had asked more, the Prophet ﷺ would have told me more."

Hadith: Need to constantly counter balance right of ones mother because they can never be repaid

• «أَنَّهُ شَهِدَ ابْنَ عُمَرَ وَرَجُلٌ يَمَانِيٌّ يَطُوفُ بِالْبَيْتِ حَمَلَ أُمَّهُ وَرَاءَ ظَهْرِهِ يَقُولُ: (إِنِّي لَهَا بَعِيرُهَا الْمُذَلَّلُ .. إِنْ أُذْعِرَتْ رِكَابُهَا لَمْ أُذْعَرِ). ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَا ابْنَ عُمَرَ أَتُرَانِي جَزَيْتُهَا؟ قَالَ: لاَ وَلاَ بِزَفْرَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ.» (الأدب المفرد ١١ صحيح)

He witnessed Ibn Umar and a Yemeni man doing the Tawaf of the House (the Kābah). The man was carrying his mother on his back and saying, "I am her humble camel. If her ride is frightened, I will not be frightened." Then he said, "O Ibn Umar, do you think I have repaid her?" Ibn Umar replied, "No, not even for a single groan ˹of labor pain˺ of hers."

Hadith: Three duas that are always accepted, like Jurayj's mother

• «قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ ثَلاَثُ دَعَوَاتٍ مُسْتَجَابَاتٌ، لَهُنَّ لاَ شَكَّ فِيهِنَّ: (١) دَعْوَةُ الْمَظْلُومِ، (٢) وَدَعْوَةُ الْمُسَافِرِ، (٣) وَدَعْوَةُ الْوَالِدِيْنِ عَلَى وَلَدِهِمَا» (الأدب المفرد ٣٢ حسن)

Three duas are always accepted and there is no doubt about this: (1) the supplication of someone who is oppressed, (2) the supplication of someone on a journey, and (3) the supplication of parents against their child."

Hadith: Disobedience to parents is a major sin

• «أَلاَ أُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِأَكْبَرِ الْكَبَائِرِ ثَلاَثًا قَالُوا بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ: (١) الإِشْرَاكُ بِاللَّهِ، (٢) وَعُقُوقُ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَجَلَسَ وَكَانَ مُتَّكِئًا فَقَالَ (٣) أَلاَ وَقَوْلُ الزُّورِ قَالَ فَمَا زَالَ يُكَرِّرُهَا حَتَّى قُلْنَا لَيْتَهُ سَكَتَ» (البخاري ٢٦٥٤ متفق عليه)

The Prophet ﷺ said thrice, "Should I inform you out the greatest of the great sins?" They said, "Yes, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ!" He said, "To join others in worship with Allah and to be undutiful to one's parents." The Prophet ﷺ then sat up after he had been reclining (on a pillow) and said, "And I warn you against giving a false witness, and he kept on saying that warning till we thought he would not stop.

A mother wishes that you live and you wish that she dies

• أَنَّ رَجُلًا أَتَى عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ فَقَالَ: إِنَّ لِي أُمًّا بَلَغَ بِهَا الْكِبَرُ، أَنَّهَا لَا تَقْضِي حَاجَتَهَا إِلَّا وَظَهْرِي لَهَا مَطِيَّةٌ، أُوَضِّئُهَا، وَأَحْرِفُ وَجْهِي عَنْهَا، فَهَلْ أَدَّيْتُ حَقَّهَا؟ قَالَ: لَا. قَالَ: أَلَيْسَ قَدْ حَمَلْتُهَا عَلَى ظَهْرِي، وَحَبَسْتُ عَلَيْهَا نَفْسِي؟! قَالَ: إِنَّهَا كَانَتْ تَصْنَعُ ذَلِكَ بِكَ، وَهِيَ تَتَمَنَّى بَقَاءَكَ، وَأَنْتَ تَصْنَعُ ذَلِكَ، وَأَنْتَ تَتَمَنَّى فِرَاقَهَا. (رَوَاهُ ابْنُ أَبِي الدُّنْيَا)

It is narrated that a man came to Umar ᴿᴬ and said: “I have a mother who has reached old age. She cannot relieve herself except while my back is her mount. I clean her and turn my face away from her. Have I fulfilled her right?” He said, “No.” The man said,"But I carried her on my back and devoted myself entirely to her!" Umar replied, "She used to do all that for you while hoping you would live. But you are doing it while wishing she would pass away."

Jurayj opted to pray instead of responding to his mother

• Imbalance: Personal worship vs. rights of parents.
• Fulfilling a mother's need is greater than nawafil.
• Rights of parents are highest among the creation.
• Allah loves righteousness to parents.
• Giving parents worry is from the major sins.

3 Balancing the rights of others and the community

• ﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا تَنَاجَيْتُمْ فَلَا تَتَنَاجَوْا بِالْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ وَمَعْصِيَتِ الرَّسُولِ وَتَنَاجَوْا بِالْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ ۝ إِنَّمَا النَّجْوَىٰ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ لِيَحْزُنَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَلَيْسَ بِضَارِّهِمْ شَيْئًا إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۝﴾ (سُورَةُ المُجادَلة ٥٨:٩)

58:9 O you who have believed, when you converse privately, do not converse about sin and aggression and disobedience to the Messenger but converse about righteousness and piety. And fear Allah, to whom you will be gathered. 10 Private conversation is only from Satan that he may grieve those who have believed, but he will not harm them at all except by permission of Allah. And upon Allah let the believers rely.

The people conspiring against Jurayj

• Imbalance: Violating the rights of others fed by jealousy.
• A believer is free from hidden agendas and harmful secrecy.
• Harmful najwa can cause discord and harm to our communities.

4 Showing patience during test and trials

Test of good and bad

• ﴿كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ ۗ وَنَبْلُوكُمْ بِالشَّرِّ وَالْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةً ۖ وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ ۝﴾ (سُورَةُ الأنبيَاء ٢١:٣٥)

21:35 Every soul will taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned.

Not questioning Allah when tests are heavy

• ﴿وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ حَرْفٍ ۖ فَإِنْ أَصَابَهُ خَيْرٌ اطْمَأَنَّ بِهِ ۖ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ فِتْنَةٌ انْقَلَبَ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِ
  خَسِرَ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْخُسْرَانُ الْمُبِينُ ۝﴾ (سُورَةُ الحَج ٢٢:١١)

22:11 And of the people is he who worships Allah on an edge. If he is touched by good, he is reassured by it; but if he is struck by trial, he turns on his face ˹to the other direction˺. He has lost ˹this˺ world and the Hereafter. That is what is the manifest loss.

Allah is with the patient

• ﴿إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ ۝﴾ (سُورَةُ البَقَرَة ٢:١٥٣)

2:153 O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.

Jurayj's hermitage is destroyed and he is beaten

• Imbalance: Giving up in face of difficulties.
• Jurayj could have rebelled after worshipping Allah so much yet he was not spared.
• He looked inward toward his own mistakes that led to his difficulties.
• Test and trials and part and parcel of life.
• Having blessings or lack there of are all tests.
• Only through trials is the mettle of our faith fully tested.
• Allah gives you ability to cope: فسنيسّرة لليسرى

5 Miracles bring about balance during injustice

• ﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنْ تَتَّقُوا اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ فُرْقَانًا وَيُكَفِّرْ عَنْكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ ۝ وَإِذْ يَمْكُرُ بِكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِيُثْبِتُوكَ أَوْ يَقْتُلُوكَ أَوْ يُخْرِجُوكَ ۚ وَيَمْكُرُونَ وَيَمْكُرُ اللَّهُ ۖ وَاللَّهُ خَيْرُ الْمَاكِرِينَ ۝﴾ (سُورَةُ الأنفَال ٨:٢٩)

8:29 O you who have believed, if you fear Allah, He will grant you a decisive authority and will remove from you your misdeeds and forgive you. And Allah is the possessor of great bounty. 30 And ˹remember, O Muhammad˺, when those who disbelieved plotted against you to restrain you or kill you or evict you ˹from Makkah˺. But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners.

The miracle of the baby speaking

• Imbalance: Injustice.
• Allah grants miracles / karamat to his most obedient of servants.
• Allah's plan will always be fulfilled.

6 Balancing needs vs. wants

Quran: Pursuit of worldly gain will destructive to your Akhirah

• ﴿أَلْهَاكُمُ التَّكَاثُرُ ۝ حَتَّىٰ زُرْتُمُ الْمَقَابِرَ ۝ كَلَّا سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ ۝ ثُمَّ كَلَّا سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ ۝﴾ (سُورَةُ التَكاثـُر ١٠٢:١)

102:1 Competition in ˹worldly˺ increase diverts you 2 Until you visit the graveyards. 3 No! You are going to know. 4 Then no! You are going to know.

Adornments of life are a source of test

• ﴿وَلَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَيْنَيْكَ إِلَىٰ مَا مَتَّعْنَا بِهِ أَزْوَاجًا مِنْهُمْ زَهْرَةَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا لِنَفْتِنَهُمْ فِيهِ ۚ وَرِزْقُ رَبِّكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ ۝﴾ (سُورَةُ طه ٢٠:١٣١)

20:131 And do not extend your eyes toward that by which We have given enjoyment to ˹some˺ categories of them, ˹its being but˺ the splendor of worldly life by which We test them. And the provision of your Lord is better and more enduring.

Jurayj did not desire a house of gold or silver

• Imbalance: Wants are greater than needs.
• Contentment with what you have.
• Pursuit of worldy gain distracts you from your true purpose.
• Splendor and glamor is a test from Allah.

7 Balance of Allah protecting you when you protect Allah's rights

Hadith: Earn Allah's protection by guarding your duties toward him; No harm will come to you unless it is written for you

• «كُنْتُ خَلْفَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَوْمًا فَقَالَ: «يَا غُلاَمُ، إِنِّي أُعَلِّمُكَ كَلِمَاتٍ: احْفَظِ اللَّهَ يَحْفَظْكَ، احْفَظِ اللَّهَ تَجِدْهُ تُجَاهَكَ، إِذَا سَأَلْتَ فَاسْأَلِ اللَّهَ، وَإِذَا اسْتَعَنْتَ فَاسْتَعِنْ بِاللَّهِ۔ وَاعْلَمْ، أَنَّ الأُمَّةَ لَوِ اجْتَمَعَتْ عَلَى أَنْ يَنْفَعُوكَ بِشَيْءٍ لَمْ يَنْفَعُوكَ إِلاَّ بِشَيْءٍ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ لَكَ، وَلَوِ اجْتَمَعُوا عَلَى أَنْ يَضُرُّوكَ بِشَيْءٍ لَمْ يَضُرُّوكَ إِلاَّ بِشَيْءٍ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ: رُفِعَتِ الأَقْلاَمُ وَجَفَّتِ الصُّحُفُ»» (الترمذي ٢٥١٦ صحيح)

I was behind the Prophet ﷺ one day when he said: 'O boy! I will teach you a statement: Be mindful of Allah and He will protect you. Be mindful of Allah and you will find Him before you. When you ask, ask Allah, and when you seek aid, seek Allah's aid. Know that if the entire creation were to gather together to do something to benefit you- you would never get any benefit except that Allah had written for you. And if they were to gather to do something to harm you- you would never be harmed except that Allah had written for you. The pens are lifted and the pages are dried.'"

Allah promises relief for those who have Taqwa

• ﴿…وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مَخْرَجًا ۝ وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ
  وَمَنْ يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ ۚ
  إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْرًا ۝
  … وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ يُسْرًا ۝
  … وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يُكَفِّرْ عَنْهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِ وَيُعْظِمْ لَهُ أَجْرًا ۝﴾ (سُورَةُ الطَّلاق ٦٥:٢)

65:2 … And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out 3 And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a ˹decreed˺ extent. 4 … And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him of his matter ease. 5 … and whoever fears Allah - He will remove for him his misdeeds and make great for him his reward.

Jurayj is given relief from his distress

• Imbalance: Serving the Lord and the impossibility of His protection for you.
• Relief from distress is a promise of Allah
• Taqwa and Tawakkul in the promise is the condition

8 Balance of higher stations with severe trials

Hadith: Every kind of distress, even a thorn prick, expiates sins

• «عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ: «مَا يُصِيبُ الْمُسْلِمَ مِنْ نَصَبٍ، وَلاَ وَصَبٍ، وَلاَ هَمٍّ، وَلاَ حُزْنٍ، وَلاَ أَذًى، وَلاَ غَمٍّ، حَتَّى الشَّوْكَةِ يُشَاكُهَا، إِلاَّ كَفَّرَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِنْ خَطَايَاهُ۔»» (البخاري ٥٦٤١ متفق عليه)

The Prophet ﷺ said, "No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick from a thorn, except that Allah expiates some of his sins for that."

Hadith: Allah puts his servants through in this world to cleanse them before their final accounting

• «إِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِعَبْدِهِ الْخَيْرَ عَجَّلَ لَهُ الْعُقُوبَةَ فِي الدُّنْيَا، وَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِعَبْدِهِ الشَّرَّ أَمْسَكَ عَنْهُ بِذَنْبِهِ حَتَّى يُوَفَّى بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ۔»
  «إِنَّ عِظَمَ الْجَزَاءِ مَعَ عِظَمِ الْبَلاَءِ۔ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ إِذَا أَحَبَّ قَوْمًا ابْتَلاَهُمْ۔ فَمَنْ رَضِيَ فَلَهُ الرِّضَا، وَمَنْ سَخِطَ فَلَهُ السَّخَطُ۔»» (الترمذي ٢٣٩٦ حسن)

"When Allah wants good for his slave, He hastens his punishment in the world. And when He wants bad for His slave, He withholds his sins from him until he appears before Him on the Day of Judgement."

"Indeed greater reward comes with greater trial. And indeed, when Allah loves a people He subjects them to trials, so whoever is content, then for him is pleasure, and whoever is discontent, then for him is wrath."

Jurayj is honored even more than before

• Imbalance: Higher stations of Jannah cannot be attained with less good deeds.
• Showing patience during trials
• Elevation in this world
• Elevation in the Hereafter

9 Infants who spoke miraculously