A new book titled “Pulpit Lights” or “Illuminations from the Pulpit”: Selected Friday Sermons on Belief, Rituals, Values, Transactions, Urban Development, and Rights" has recently been published by Dar Al-Asala in Istanbul. This book is authored by our esteemed scholar, Dr. Issam Ahmed Al-Bashir, and it encompasses the sermons he has delivered throughout his fifty-year journey in advocacy, rhetoric, and pulpit delivery. The book contains nearly 100 sermons compiled in two volumes, exceeding 1150 pages, with a comprehensive introduction—making it indispensable for any preacher, speaker, or educator.

The sermons included in these two volumes are divided into seven themes or sections:

• The first is: Spiritual Purification and Conduct,
• The second: Values and Concepts,
• The third: Family and Society,
• The fourth: Issues of Thought,
• The fifth: Seasons and Occasions,
• The sixth: Palestine and the Issues of the Ummah,
• The seventh and final section is: Diverse Sermons.

One of the most notable aspects of this important publication is its extensive introduction, in which the author presents his work. This introduction is both engaging and beneficial, eloquently highlighting his journey with the pulpit, the countries where he has preached—the 'Geography of the Pulpit'—the influences he has encountered from fellow speakers, and the characteristics of successful sermons.

 Introduction to the Introduction

At the beginning of his introduction, Dr. Issam Al-Bashir states: “Oratory is a noble message that carries within it the light of guidance, expressing the pains and hopes of the nation, drawing lessons from history, and envisioning the horizons of the future. The speaker, endowed with eloquence and wisdom, bears a tremendous responsibility as they are the eloquent voice of the nation, its honest sound, and its ambassador to the hearts and minds.

Throughout Islamic history, the pulpit has been a beacon of truth and justice, a source of knowledge and learning, and a sanctuary for guiding the nation in times of hardship and prosperity. It is the tool that conveys the words from the hearts of scholars to the ears and understandings of the people, illuminating the meanings of faith and achieving social reform. At this pulpit, imams, scholars, and speakers have stood, proclaiming the word of truth, instilling hope, and lighting the path for the people toward God.

As for the Friday sermon, it is the crown of Islamic oratory and its most significant arena, where crowds gather and eyes and ears turn to the speaker who stands as a caller, guide, and mentor, renewing their connection with their Creator and linking them to the values and principles of Islam. Hence, the importance of preparing the sermon with care and precision, comprehensiveness, and integration, so that it combines depth of meaning with beauty of form, and wisdom of discourse with the magnificence of expression.

I have been blessed by Allah to stand at this pulpit early on since the beginning of my educational journey. With each sermon I delivered, I found it a new opportunity to call to Allah, serve my nation, and contribute to building its awareness and reforming its condition. The sermon for me has been a means of communicating with people, a window to express the concerns and hopes of the nation, and a field for guiding minds and refining souls.

After a full half-century of preaching on various pulpits I have been fortunate to ascend in different countries, I attempted to collect the scattered recorded and written sermons into one volume to preserve most of them from oblivion and to assist the benefiting preacher, seeking to rationalize the word and correct the sermon.

Among the things I wished to begin within this comprehensive book of pulpit sermons is to share something of my journey and story with the pulpit, followed by mentioning the characteristics of a successful sermon.”

 Dr. Al-Bashir’s Journey with the Pulpit

He began his journey in oratory as a student in middle school, where there existed a program called "Literary Association," an activity concerning students' own efforts, where they presented some of their memorized passages, whether prose or poetry, to their peers, with the guidance of teachers who corrected and informed students’ performances and meanings.

The student who memorized something would present it in front of his peers. Dr. Al-Bashir was particularly fond of a distinguished book, which is the book of Abu Abdullah Ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Andalusi (246-328 AH / 860-940 CE) titled "The Unique Necklace" ("Al-Aqd al-Farid"). It was in his father's library and is one of the four major literary works in its field. During that time, he memorized some excerpts, whether prose or poetry, and would ascend the student podium to present them before his professors and peers, receiving feedback that fueled his desire for further engagement with this literary treasure.

His passion for literature and language increased during high school, where he served as president of the student union, requiring even more exploration into literature and its documents. Allah provided him with some teachers who cared for and supported him until he graduated from Imam University in Riyadh. He then embarked on a journey across the Islamic world as a lecturer, preacher, scholar, and missionary, which he discussed under the title "The Geography of the Podium."

  The Geography of the Pulpit

He narrates the geographical scope where he distributed his efforts throughout his speech-making journey: "After moving to Imam University, at the College of Usul al-Din, Department of Hadith and Sunnah Sciences in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, this allowed me the opportunity to continue preaching in camps, trips, and cultural programs organized alongside structured studies."

He states: "What deepened my interest in this field was that I visited many countries during that age. In 1978, I traveled with a delegation from Imam University to promote Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab's week, visiting Pakistan where I met the great scholar Abu al-A'la al-Mawdudi, and I visited India where I met the great scholar Abu al-Hasan al-Nadwi, may Allah have mercy on them. I also visited Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, where I met Sheikh Muhammad Naser, the founder of the 'Masyumi' Islamic Party in Indonesia. These trips provided me with cultural nourishment that greatly impacted my podium speeches."

He added, "In addition to my religious studies, my continued interest in cultural pursuits helped as well. In 1972, I came across Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi’s play 'A Scholar and a Tyrant' and 'Joseph, O the Friend,' which I represented in evening programs and frequently quoted in various occasions. Throughout my missionary journey and travels among countries, I visited no less than seventy countries where I lectured, always eager to be a speaker wherever I went. I was also the preacher at Al-Imarat Mosque 41 in Khartoum between 1992 and 1996. After the establishment of 'Al-Noor Complex' in Kafouri, Sudan, I had my longest podium experience there, lasting ten years. This mosque was attended not only by Sudanese brothers but also by Arab community members who studied and resided in Khartoum."

Preachers Who Influenced Him

Dr. Al-Bashir was influenced by notable preachers of our time. He states under the title "Preachers Who Influenced Me": "Among the prominent preachers who impacted my journey is the honorable Sheikh Muhammad Al-Ghazali, may Allah have mercy on him. His speeches were full of vitality and warmth, profound meaning, emotional depth, and quality expression. He was a first-class literary figure, nearly memorizing the 'Diwan of Enthusiasm' by Abu Tammam.

I was also influenced by our scholar and esteemed Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi; may Allah have mercy on him. For me, he was like a father, teacher, and my foremost contemporary scholar. He was a comprehensive encyclopedia of knowledge with vast understanding. He was a powerful preacher, an eloquent poet, and a writer with a significant impact on generations, captivating the hearts and minds of everyone with his intellect, spirit, and emotions. His speeches also possessed elements of contemporaneousness, depth, vitality, and passion, so I was profoundly influenced by him, and I can almost memorize many of his excerpts, wisdom, parables, and jewels."

Among them is Sheikh Hassan Tannoun, may Allah have mercy on him, who is one of the great influential scholars and orators of Sudan. He is one of the two men who impacted generations in Kuwait, alongside Sheikh Hassan Ayoub, and he was a highly skilled orator.

Sheikh Abdul Hamid Kishk

Also, there is Sheikh Abdul Hamid Kishk, may God have mercy on him. I attended his sermons at his mosque in "Deir El-Malak" in the Coptic neighborhood of Cairo. I would arrive as early as 10 AM, as his sermon would last for about an hour, followed by a lesson delivered in the Egyptian dialect, where he skillfully combined humor and profound meanings. He was well aware of the societal issues presented to him, addressing them with his deep and impactful style. He prayed with no less than forty thousand people, and his sermons were widely heard, with tapes circulated in the regions, benefiting many. His knowledge of poetry and literature was vast, and he rarely made mistakes in his speeches.

 Characteristics of a Successful Sermon

At the end of the useful introduction to the book, Dr. Al-Bashir held an important discussion under the title "Characteristics of a Successful Sermon," which is something that preachers need. The sermons included in this book serve as evidence of these characteristics, tangible before their eyes.

Ten Characteristics of a Successful Sermon

Dr. Al-Bashir highlighted ten key traits of an effective sermon:

1. Unity of Theme
2. Comprehensive Coverage: Addressing both foundational and practical aspects of the topic.
3. Thorough Understanding: Demonstrating a complete grasp of the subject in all its dimensions.
4. Intellectual Respect: Providing new and beneficial content that respects the listeners' intellect.
5. Relevance to Current Events: Staying in tune with current events and their interactions.
6. Audience Inclusivity: Accommodating the diversity of the mosque audience.
7. Balanced Language: Maintaining a balanced approach in speech, avoiding overly simplistic or excessively elevated language.
8. Consideration of Individual Circumstances: Not compelling people to adhere to a singular approach to faith without considering their excuses and exceptional circumstances.
9. Respectful Language: Avoiding language that belittles others through misguidance, excommunication, or heresy.
10. Engagement with Societal Changes: Actively engaging with societal changes.

The essence of a good sermon

One of the guiding phrases in the book's introduction is Dr. Al-Bashir's statement: "The essence of a good sermon is a combination of pleasing the intellect and satisfying the spirit, recalling God’s saying: (Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord knows best who has strayed from His way and He knows best who is rightly guided.)" (An-Nahl: 125). Wisdom offers intellectual pleasure, and good instruction satisfies emotions or the spirit.

He concluded his book by saying: "I have collected in this book a page from my experience on the pulpit, gathering nearly a hundred sermons on various aspects, selected from topics in creed, laws, rituals, values, transactions, urban development, and rights, asking God, the Almighty, to benefit my fellow preachers and those on the pulpits, and to accept this effort and work from me and make it my intercessor on the Day of Resurrection."

Indispensable for any preacher

This recently published book by Dar Al-Asala in Istanbul is indispensable for any preacher, caller to Islam, or scholar; it serves as a guide for every imam, provides rich educational material for every speaker, and is a treasure trove of thought, education, and calling for every advocate. It offers ready material and appetizing lessons that elevate both the preacher and the sermon, enhancing the role of the pulpit in the lives of individuals and communities.