بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

 

Friday Sermon

 

HAZRAT AMIR’UL MOMENEEN MUHYI-UD-DIN

AL KHALIFATULLAH

 

Munir Ahmad Azim

 

 

13 August 2010

 

(02 Ramadhan 1431 Hijri)

 

RAMADHAN MUBARAK

 

(Summary of Friday Sermon)

 

After having greeted everybody with the Salutations of Peace, the Khalifatullah read the Tashahhud, Taouz and Surah Al Fatiha and then he said:

 

 

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ۝

 

“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard (against evil).” (2:184)

 

The above-mentioned verses have been commented by this humble self many times in the past, especially during the month of Ramadan, but today for the beginning of this new month of Ramadan 2010 I have chosen to give you and our other Muslims brothers, sisters and children some advices to enable you to maximize the blessings of this Holy month, Insha-Allah.

 

The Ramadan is an opportunity for all believers to renew their pact with their Creator and to attain the highest degree of patience and steadfastness where this may lead them to witness a day of rewards, be it in this life (in form of Eid Day) and the life to come, where Allah shall grace them with great rewards. This pact must however be visible as well as invisible, in such a way that the Muslim believer not only engages himself more in Quran reading or pray additional prayers but he must do all these with reflection, humility and attention.

 

The Muslims must assure themselves that they are not formalists and they must not only concentrate on the visible. Obtaining Allah’s approval and acceptation must become the priority of every believer and this is not an easy task! In the Holy Quran it is mentioned: “Allah accepts only from those who are god-fearing.” (5:28)

 

The month of Ramadan is a blessed opportunity to make a count of all one’s sins or failings and to ask forgiveness to Allah for all these. If someone does not repent sincerely in Ramadan, then when shall he do so? The Muslims must double efforts to maximize worship of Allah, beginning with the start of the month, for therein is the hope that the rest of the month will bring about great boons and blessings.

 

Moreover, the Muslims must be aware that the month of Ramadan is only a means and not the end. Thus one should:

 

1. Observe fasting with faith and seek rewards of Allah and His forgiveness for past sins.

 

2. Avoid breaking the fast for it is a grievous sin.

 

3. Do not neglect the Tarawee prayers (on the contrary maximize such additional prayers), take advantage of them whereby you seek to obtain the favours of Allah and beg Him to forgive all our sins (that is, your own sins and the sins of the Ummah).

 

4. See to it that all your food, drink and clothing comes from licit sources in this blessed month, and also when it is time to stop eating and drinking, then do so promptly. One must also put on clean clothes when preparing oneself to accomplish the worship of Allah, and when the time for breaking the fast comes, then one must eat and drink without delay. All licit food are allowed in the month of Ramadan and one must not at any time exceed limits in his deeds in this special month (and the rest of the year also) and pray that Allah accept his duah (our duah) – Do not make merriments which is against the laws of Islam, do not exceed limits in eating and drinking as if you have not had food for days!)

 

5. Be generous, and offer the breaking the fast food (Iftaar) to other people who are observing the fast and even to those who are not, for therein are blessings for both you and the people to whom you have given food (even the ones who were not fasting).

 

6. Perform Salaat on time and in congregation to obtain Allah’s reward and protection.

 

7. Give charity, for the best charity is the one done in the month of Ramadan.

 

8. Do not lose time in vain things, lest you miss the opportunity of doing deeds, for we shall all be responsible and rewarded for all that we do.

 

9. Seek help to observe the fast by taking the pre-fast food (Sehri) in the last part of the night before Fajr prayers.

 

10. Do not lose time in breaking the fast (when the moment comes to break it).

 

11. Perform a complete bath (Ghusl) before Fajr prayers if necessary so that one is clean and pure for worship of Allah.

 

12. Seize the opportunity of this Holy month to spend your time in things that will profit you – recite the Holy Quran and reflect upon its meaning so that tomorrow (on the Day of Judgement) the Quran may become a proof and intercessor in your favour.

 

13. Protect one’s tongue from committing evil, from saying lies, from backbiting, and spread false news for all these reduces one’s blessings of fasting.

 

14. Do not let this month become a burden on you; on the contrary make it become a means of tranquillity and source of peace for you (for your soul).

 

15. At the end of the day of fasting, become pious, god-fearing, conscious of the fact that Allah knows what you do either secretly or in public. Thank Him, remaining at the same time devoted in His obedience, by doing what He has commanded to do and by avoiding the forbidden.

 

16. Increase the remembrance of Allah (Zikr’ullah), seek Allah’s forgiveness, ask for Paradise as last resting-place and ask also for Allah’s protection against Hell-fire at the time of breaking the fast, for such deeds and invocations invite the forgiveness of Allah on oneself.

 

17. Increase supplication to Allah for each of you, for your parents, children and the other Muslims for Allah commanded to ask for prayer and has promised acceptation of these prayers (if these prayers are licit – not against His laws).

 

18. Repent sincerely to Allah and avoid committing sins, keep your heart in regret for past sins and take resolution not to commit these (sins) again, for Allah forgives those who repent sincerely.

 

19. Observe six additional fasts in the month of Shawwal, for it is equal as to observing the fast for the whole year.

 

20. Remain the state of faith and fear of God and do good deeds even after Ramadan till death comes to you. Allah has said in the Holy Quran: “And remain in the worship of your Lord till the inevitable (that is, death comes to you).” (15:100)

 

21. See to it that you have achieved all the goals of fasting in this blessed month, like the implementation of all acts of worship such as Salaat (Prayer), Siyaam (Fasting), Zakaat (Obligatory Tax), Sincere repentance and the abandoning of all actions which are against the teachings of the Quran.

 

22. Recite a lot of blessings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) – Darood Shariff – and read and concentrate on the attributes of Allah. In the month of Ramadan, we must follow the great example of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and practice much charity.

 

In a Hadith reported by Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him):

 

“The Prophet was the most generous of people, but he would be his most generous during Ramadan when he would meet with [the angel] Jibreel (Gabriel). He would meet with him every night and recite the Quran. When Jibreel met him, he used to be more generous than a fast wind.”

 

Hazrat Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) is reported to have said: “When Ramadan would start, the Prophet would release all prisoners of war and fulfil the need of every person who would ask him for something.”

 

Being Generous and giving (without keeping count) are such attributes which Allah loves that the Muslims manifest in themselves. Allah is indeed the Most Generous and Best Giver of things, and this generosity is especially multiplied in Ramadan. Similarly, the Messenger of Allah’s generosity used to be great in the month of Ramadan, and indeed he is that sole person whose attributes everyone would have wanted to acquire.

 

There are many reasons and indications behind the prophet’s purpose of spending much in charity in the month of Ramadan. Some of them are:

 

1. The month of Ramadan is blessed and honourable, and rewards for generosity therein are multiplied. Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) has said: “The best charity is what is given in Ramadan.” (Tirmidhi)

 

2. It is a source of help and support, especially to the one who is observing the fast. To encourage this, Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) has said: “The one who nourish someone who is fasting will be rewarded like him, without diminishing his rewards in any way.” (Ahmad)

 

When someone who is fasting abandon eating and drinking (to his fill) during Ramadan, and prefers to give these food and drinks to others, thus this sacrifice, this deprivation of things desired (that is, food and drink) will be source of blessings and rewards for him, Insha-Allah.

 

3. The month of Ramadan is a month of charity and forgiveness. Allah blesses with His forgiveness those who are filled with faith and liberate them from the fire of Hell. Thus, anyone who forgives and is generous during this month, Allah shall forgive him and show Himself generous to him and give him such blessings and rewards which are beyond his expectation.

 

4. Charity and fasting are the greatest and most efficacious barriers to safeguard a person from the fire of Hell. About fasting, Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) has said: “Fasting is a shield and a protection against the fire of Hell.” (Ahmad)

 

He (peace be upon him) also said about charity: “Charity extinguishes sins like water extinguishes fire.”

 

To conclude this sermon today, I thus make this prayer: “O Allah, enable us and all sincere Muslims who are fasting, to stand up in prayer during Ramadan, to seek Your rewards and forgiveness for past and future sins. O Allah, verily, You are the Forgiver, You love forgiving, therefore (O Allah), forgive us.” Ameen.