During his Friday sermon at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Imam and preacher Sheikh Dr. Faisal bin Jamil Ghazawi affirmed that weakness is an inherent human characteristic, an inseparable part of our nature and the disposition with which God created us, citing the verse: "God is the One Who created you from weakness." He explained that this human weakness manifests itself in various ways, most notably the inability of individuals to resist their desires or to abstain from worldly temptations and allurements, except for those whom God protects and strengthens.
Dr. Ghazawi explained that no matter how great a person's mental and physical abilities, and no matter how numerous their talents and potential, they should never rely on themselves or be deceived by their own strength. Rather, they must seek God's help in all their actions and movements. He pointed out that neglecting to seek God's help is the first step towards failure and misguidance, as acknowledging one's weakness and dependence on the Creator is the only way to obtain help and guidance, and to be inspired with righteousness and wisdom in this life and the hereafter.
The danger of self-admiration
In discussing spiritual ailments, the preacher of the Grand Mosque strongly warned against the disease of self-admiration and its accompanying arrogance, describing it as one of the worst and most insidious forms of pride, and one of the most destructive to a person's faith and worldly life. He emphasized that the moment a person becomes conceited is the moment when divine favor abandons them, leaving them surrounded by despair. He stressed the importance of constantly supplicating to God to keep hearts steadfast in faith.
Historical lessons from the Prophet's biography and the Quran
To reinforce these faith-based values, His Eminence presented established historical and Quranic evidence confirming God's laws governing His creation. He touched upon the story of Iblis, whom God expelled from His mercy and from Paradise because of his arrogance and pride when he said, "I am better than him." His Eminence also addressed the events of the Battle of Hunayn, a harsh and significant lesson in Islamic history. Some Muslims were deceived by their large numbers and superior equipment, saying, "We will not be defeated today because of our small numbers." As a result, the earth, vast as it is, seemed to close in on them at the beginning of the battle, until God, in His mercy, granted them victory when they returned to truly placing their trust in Him.
Sheikh Ghazawi concluded his sermon by emphasizing that the pulpit of the Two Holy Mosques remains a beacon of guidance and direction, reminding Muslims in the east and west of the earth that true success and prosperity depend on sincere reliance on God, and that whoever is certain of the necessity of trusting in the Creator and rejecting total dependence on oneself has attained the means of salvation in this world and the hereafter.
