Night Follows Day, Relief Follows Hardship: Friday Sermon from Masjid An Nabawi 26 June 2026
Sheikh Ahmed Al-Hudhaifi, Imam of the Masjid An Nabwi, has advised Muslims to fear God Almighty and obey the Generous Lord, inspiring a feeling of reverence and responsibility to seek His pleasure.
God Almighty said: “O you who have believed, fear God and speak words of appropriate justice. He will then amend for you your deeds and forgive you your sins. And whoever obeys God and His Messenger has certainly attained a great attainment.”
Sheikh Ahmed Al-Hudhaifi said: The passing of days, months, and years offers a clear lesson and a reminder, encouraging us to reflect on our past, present, and future with insight and purpose.
In this lies a lesson for every negligent person to prepare themselves, and solace for every afflicted person with the passing of their time of hardship. Thus, let this world deceive no heedless or deluded person, nor let anyone in distress and hardship despair.
God, Exalted is He, says: “And it is He who has made the night and the day alternate for whoever desires to remember or desires gratitude.” (2:25) That is, each succeeds the other; they alternate without ceasing; one goes, and the other comes. “For whoever desires to remember or desires gratitude.” (2:25) That is, He made them alternate so that one may learn from them.
Thus, the one who reflects on the Oneness of the Creator, may He be glorified, will know that He is All-Powerful and that none but He deserves worship. And the grateful will be thankful for the immense blessings and great favors inherent in the alternation of night and day, and for making them alternate so that people may make up in the later time for what they missed of good deeds, acts of obedience, and benefits in the earlier time.
Whoever misses an act of worship at night can make it up during the day.
His Eminence continued, saying: Whoever misses an act of worship during the day can make it up at night.
On the authority of Abu Musa al-Ash’ari (may God be pleased with him), on the authority of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), he said: “God Almighty extends His hand at night so that the sinner of the day may repent, and He extends His hand during the day so that the sinner of the night may repent, until the sun rises from the west.”
And it was narrated on the authority of Ibn Abbas (may God be pleased with them both), in interpreting the Almighty’s words: “And it is He who has made the night and the day alternate,” that he said: Whoever misses something to do at night can make it up during the day, or something to do during the day can make it up at night.
Sheikh Dr. Ahmed Al-Hudhaifi concluded: In the succession of nights and days, and the passing of years and seasons, there is a reminder for those facing difficulties that this world is temporary and ever-changing, urging us to transform our distress into relief and remain steadfast in faith.
The Prophet Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him peace, said in his advice to Ibn Abbas, may God be pleased with them both: ‘Know that in patience with what you dislike there is much good, and that victory comes with patience, and that relief comes with distress, and that with hardship comes ease.’”
