Khutba on End of Ramadan

الحمد لله، الحمد لله الذي خص آخر رمضانَ بالعتق من النار، وجعل فيه ليلةً يفرح من وجدها من عباده الأبرار، نحمده تعالى ونستعينه، ونشكره تعالى ونستغفره ونستغيثه، نعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا ومن سيئات أعمالنا، من يهد الله فهو المهتد ومن يضلل فلن تجد له وليا مرشدا، ونشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك و له الحمد، يحيي ويميت، بيده الخير، وهو على كل شيء قدير،  ونشهد أن سيدنا و مولانا محمداً عبده ورسوله، وحبيبه وصفيه، بلغ الرسالة وأدّى الأمانة ونصح الأمة، النبي الأمي الذي أرسله الله بالهدى والدين الحق، بشيرا ونذيرا بين يدي الساعة، صلى الله عليه وسلم وعلى آله وأصحابه ومن تبعهم بإحسان إلى يوم الدين.

أما بعد! فيا عباد الله اتقوا الله حق تقاته ولا تموتن إلا وأنتم مسلمون. يأيها الذين ءامنوا اتقوا الله وقولوا قولا سديدا يصلح لكم أعمالكم ويغفر لكم ذنوبكم. ومن يطع 

الله ورسوله فقد فاز فوزا عظيما. اتقوا الله فيما أمر وانتهوا عما نها عنه وزجر.

Muslims, we have today entered into one of the most blessed periods of time in the entire year for today is the first of the last ten days of Ramadan. If the beginning of the month is mercy and the middle is forgiveness, then these last ten days are freedom and protection from the Fire.
It was during these days and nights that the Messenger of Allah used to make even greater efforts to worship his Lord. 

عن عائشة رضى الله تعالى عنها قالت كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يجتهد في العشر الأواخر مالا يجتهد في غيره

Aisha narrated that the Messenger of Allah used to strive harder in the last ten nights of Ramadan (in worship) than he would in the rest of the year. 
Indeed, so great was their merit in the eyes of the Messenger of Allah that he was loath to spend even a single moment of them in an activity other than the worship of his Lord, and actively encouraged his family and Companions to do the same. 

عن عائشة رضى الله تعالى عنها قالت كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا دخل العشر شد مئزره وأحيا ليله وأيقظ أهله

Aisha is narrated as having said, “When the last ten nights of Ramadan began, the Prophet would tighten his mi’zar, bring its nights to life and wake up his family.”
There are three things mentioned with respect to the Messenger of Allah in this hadith. The first is that he would ‘tighten his mi’zar’ – a garment that is wrapped around the waist. This is a metaphor which has the meaning of rolling up one’s sleeves and intensifying one’s efforts, as well as that of keeping away from women and sexual intercourse. In other words, he dedicated his time to dhikr and worship of his Lord, forswearing all other activities. 
The second is that he would ‘brings its nights to life’. This is a metaphor for staying up in the night and filling it with dhikr, Quran and prayer.

عن ‏عائشة‏ ‏رضي الله عنها ‏قالت ‏‏لا أعلم رسول الله ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏‏قرأ القرآن كله في ليلة ولا قام ليلة حتى الصباح ولا صام شهرا كاملا قط غير رمضان ‏

Aisha is narrated as having said, “I never knew the Messenger of Allah to recite the entire Quran in a single night or stand the whole night until morning in prayer or fast a complete month except during Ramadan.”
And the third is that he would ‘wake his family’, meaning his wives, so that they too might enjoy the benefits of that special time. 
The Messenger of Allah recognised the great value of these days and nights and acted accordingly and we must do the same, for his is the example that every Muslim must strive to follow. Allah says:

لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآَخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا

the translation of which is, “You have an excellent model in the Messenger of Allah, for all who put their hope in Allah and the Last Day and remember Allah much.”
One of the greatest features of these last ten nights of Ramadan is that it is in this period that the Laylat al-Qadr falls, as has been confirmed by numerous hadiths.

عن عائشة قالت كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول تحروا ليلة القدر في العشر الأواخر من رمضان

Aisha narrated that the Messenger of Allah used to say, “Seek the Laylat al-Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan.”

وعن ابن عباس رضى الله عنهما أنه صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: التمسوها في العشر الأواخر من رمضان في تاسعة تبقى في سابعة تبقى في خامسة تبقى

And Ibn Abbas narrated that he said, “Seek it in the last ten nights of Ramadan, when there are nine [days] left, when there are seven left, when there are five left.”

وعن ابن عمر رضى الله عنهما أنه صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: “من كان متحرياً ليلة القدر، فليتحرّها ليلة سبع وعشرين”

And Ibn Umar narrated that he said, “Anyone who seeks the Laylat al-Qadr should seek it on the 27th night of (Ramadan).” 
But, what is this laylat al-Qadr and why is it so special? First, because it is the night upon which Allah sent down the Quran in its entirety. Allah says:

إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ

the translation of which is, “Truly We sent it down on the Night of Power.”  According to Ibn Abbas, the entire Quran was sent down from the Preserved Tablet to the Bayt al-Izza – House of Might in the Lowest Heaven on this night, from where it was revealed to the Prophet over a period of 23 years.
Second, because Allah has made it better that 1000 months – the equivalent of 83 years – the life-span of the human being. Allah says:

وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ

the translation of which is, “And what will convey to you what the Night of Power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.” It is said that Allah gave the umma of Muhammad the laylat al-Qadr to compensate them for the fact that their life-spans were so much shorter than those of previous peoples. Thus, anyone who stands in worship on the laylat al-Qadr will have stood in worship for a period of time equivalent to their entire life-time.
Third, the angels come down and spread their wings over those who are standing in prayer or sitting worshipping their Lord. Allah says:

تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ مِنْ كُلِّ أَمْرٍ 

the translation of which is, “In it the angels and the Ruh descend by their Lord’s authority with every ordinance.” And the Prophet said, as narrated by Anas ibn Malik,

إذا كانَ ليلةَ القَدرِ نزلَ جبريلُ في كَبْكبة من الملائكة، يُصلُّون ويسلمون على كل عبد قائم أو قاعد يذكر الله تعالى

“On the laylat al-Qadr, Jibril and a host of other angels descend, and pray for every slave who they find standing in prayer or sitting remembering Allah, and give them salaams.”
Fourth, it is a night of peace and safety, during which people are protected from the wiles of Shaytan and many are freed from the Fire. Allah says:

سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّى مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ

the translation of which is, “It is Peace- until the coming of the dawn.”
Fifth, it is a blessed night upon which the decree for everyone for the coming year is decided – who will live and who will die and the amount of provision each will receive and so on. Allah says, referring to the laylat al-Qadr according to most of the mufassirin, 

فِيهَا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ أَمْرًا مِنْ عِنْدِنَا

the translation of which is, “During it every wise decree is specified by a command from Our presence.”
And sixth, those who bring it to life will receive the reward of all their past sins being forgiven. The Prophet said, 

من قام ليلةَ القدر إيمانا واحتسابا غُفر له ما تقدم من ذنبِه

“Whoever stands in prayer on the Laylat al-Qadr, with belief and the anticipation of reward for doing so, will be forgiven all the wrong actions that he has committed up to that point.” All of this for just one night of worship – a paltry few hours. This is an opportunity that none of us can afford to pass up. This is something for which we must all be selfish. Forget the petty concerns of this world – what are a few days of tiredness in exchange for the unimaginable treasures and rewards that await you if you bring this night to life? So do not miss it for the world. And do not put all your eggs in one basket and limit your efforts to the 27th night. Yes, the 27th night is the most likely night for the laylat al-Qadr to fall, but it is not guaranteed that it will be on that night for it could fall on any of the odd nights of the last ten days. And, indeed, some of the people of knowledge, such as Hasan al-Basri, have mentioned that it could even fall on the even nights. So, at the very least, we should strive to pray Isha in the mosque and be present at the Tarawih for all of those nights so that we guarantee ourselves at least a portion of the laylat al-Qadr.

أقول قولي هذا و أستغفر الله لي و لكم و لسائر المسلمين من كل ذنب فاستغفروه إنه هو الغفور الرَّحيمالحمد لله الحمد لله رب العالمين، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له وأشهد أن محمداً عبده ورسوله، صلى الله وسلم وبارك عليه وعلى آله وصحبه، والتابعين وتابعي التابعين ومن تبعهم بإحسان إلى يوم الدين.

أما بعد! فيأيها الذين ءامنوا اتقوا الله ما استطعتم واسمعوا وأطيعوا وأنفقوا خيرا لأنفسكم. يا عباد الله أوصيكم وإياي بتقوى الله وطاعته وأحذركم وإياي عن معصيته ومخالفته.

قال الله عز وجل في كتابه العزيز: وَلَا تُبَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنْتُمْ عَاكِفُونَ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ

Allah says in His Mighty Book, the translation of which is, “But do not have sexual intercourse with them while you are in retreat in the mosques.” 

One of the best things to do in these last ten nights is doing i’tikaf in the mosque. And, indeed, that was one of the confirmed practices of the Messenger of Allah.

عن ابن عمر رضى الله تعالى عنهما أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يعتكف في العشر الأواخر من رمضان

Ibn Umar narrated that the Prophet used to spend the last ten days of Ramadan in the mosque doing i’tikaf. This practice is recommended for both men and women and involves retreating into the mosque and dedicating one’s time exclusively to dhikr, Qur’an and prayer. However, for a person’s i’tikaf to be valid, there are a number of preconditions and rulings that must be fulfilled.
First, it must be in the mosque. Allah says: 

وَأَنْتُمْ عَاكِفُونَ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ

the translation of which is, “while you are in retreat (i’tikaf) in the mosques.” I’tikaf is not valid anywhere else.
Second, one must make an intention to do i’tikaf. I’tikaf is an act of worship and all acts of worship require an intention. And you should intend the length of time you plan to spend doing i’tikaf.
Third, on any day upon which a person intends to do i’tikaf, he should enter the mosque before Maghrib and remain there until the following Maghrib. That is the minimum length of time for i’tikaf. And he should not leave his place of i’tikaf except for a pressing need. And by a pressing need, we mean four things: meeting the call of nature, buying food and provisions for his stay, illness and beginning one’s menstrual period.
Fourth, one can only do i’tikaf when one is fasting. So someone who is too ill to fast or is not a state where they are permitting to fast, such as a woman in menstruation, may not remain in i’tikaf until they they recover or their state changes. 
Fifth, one must dedicate one’s time to acts of worship as much as one is able, including praying, doing dhikr and reciting Qur’an. One should refrain from engaging others in conversation and keep oneself to oneself. I’tikaf is about taking on the state of the angels – in other words, being in a state of constant dhikr – and denying one’s base appetites. As for studying the deen, according to the strongest position in the Maliki madhhab, that is not a proper use of one’s time in i’tikaf. 
These are the conditions and obligations of i’tikaf. As for those things which render it invalid, they are: engaging in sexual relations, even kissing; leaving the deen; drunkenness; deliberately breaking one’s fast during the day; and leaving the mosque for any reason other than those four we mentioned, no matter what. This is a summary of the rulings relating to i’tikaf. 
We ask Allah to accept the i’tikaf of all of those who are doing it this year, here in this mosque and throughout the world. And may he make it a means by which they draw near to Him. We ask Allah to reward them and to give the same reward to all of those who intended to do it but found themselves unable to do so. We ask Allah to open up the secrets of these last ten days for all of us and grant us the strength to stand its nights in prayer and fill them with dhikr and nawafil. We ask Him to make us from among those who find the Laylat al-Qadr and benefit from its rewards. We ask Him to strengthen this community and protect its shaykh and amir and join our hearts together in obedience to Him and His Messenger.

إنَّ اللهَ ومَلائِكَتَهُ يُصلُّونَ على النَّبِي يَا أَيُها الذينَ آمنوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وسَلِّمُوا تَسْليماً. اللهمَّ صَلِّ وسَلِّم وبارِك عَلَيْهِ وعلى آلِهِ وصَحْبِهِ  أجمعين. وارض اللهم عن الخلفاء الراشدين المرشدين الحنفاء ساداتنا وأئمتنا أبي بكر وعمر وعثمان وعلي ، وعن سائر الصحابة أجمعين، خصوصاالأنصار منهم والمهاجرين، وعن التابعين وتابعي التابعين ومن تبعهم بإحسان إلى يوم الدين.

اللهم اهد أولات أمور المسلمين لما يرضيك ولاتباع سنة نبيك    وثبت أقدامهم على الصراط المستقيم وأصلحهم يا رب العالمين.

اللهم بارك على شيخنا و على أميرنا رميز وعلى جميع أمراء وزعماء المسلمين.  اللهم بارك على المسلمين في هذه المدينة ووفقهم لما تحبه وترضاه يا أكرم الأكرمين. 

اللهمّ أَعِزَّ الْلإسلامَ والمُسِلمينَ (3)  واَخْذُلِ الكُفْرَ والكافِرينَ، وانْصُرِ المُجاهِدينَ في سَبِيلِ اللهِ. واجْعَلْ كَلِمََتَكَ هِيَ العُلْيَا وكَلِمَةَ الكُفْرِ هِيَ السُّفْلى.

ربنا ءاتنا في الدنيا حسنة وفي الأخرة حسنة وقنا عذاب النار. ربنا ءاتنا من لدنك رحمة و هيئ لنا من أمرنا رشدا. ربنا هب لنا من أزواجنا وذريتنا قرة أعين واجعلنا للمتقين إماما.

ربنا اغفر لنا ذنوبنا وإِسرافنا في أمرِنا وثبت أقدامنا وانصرنا على القوم الكافرِينَ.

إن الله يأمر بالعدل والإحسان وإيتاء ذي القربى وينهى عَنِ الفحشاءِ والمُنكَرِ والبغي، يعظكم لعلكم تذكرون، ولَذِكْرُ اللهِ أكبر والله يَعْلَمُ ما تَصْنَعُون. وقُومُوا إِلَى صَلاتِكُمْ يرحمكم الله