Khutba on Qualities of Ramadan
الحمد لله، الحمد لله الذي فرض الصيامَ في رمضان، وأنزل فيه القرءان، ووعد لمن صامه أيمانا واحتسابا العفو والغفران، 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.
قال الله تعالى في كتابه الكريم : “يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ أَيَّامًا مَعْدُودَاتٍ.”
Allah says in His Noble Book, the translation of which is, “O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you – so that perhaps you will gain taqwa – for a specified number of days.” O Muslims, another year has passed and Ramadan is almost upon us, that glorious month whose coming we long for and whose passing we mourn, that month which is the focus and fulcrum of our entire year, the month of the obligatory fast and the month of tarawih. However, that is but a part – albeit a significant one – of what Ramadan is about. For Ramadan is not just about giving up eating or drinking as some people suppose – it is so much more than that. The Prophet said:
رُبَّ صائمٍ حظُّه من صيامِه الجوعُ والعطُش، ورُبَّ قائمٍ حظه من قيامه التَعب والسَهَر
“So many who fast get nothing but hunger and thirst from their fasting, and so many who stand the night in prayer get nothing but tiredness and sleeplessness from their standing.”
Ramadan is a special time in the year, a month that Allah has chosen above all others. Its relationship to the months of year is like that of Jumua to the days of the week, as the Prophet said in a well-known hadith,
“سيد الشهور رمضان، وسيد الأيام يوم الجمعة.”
“The lord of all the months is Ramadan and the lord of all the days is Jumu‘a.” And that is why Allah chose it as the month for the obligatory fast – so that we might more fully take advantage of those qualities that are special to it. For it is when we are fasting that we are at our most receptive.
And indeed, the fact that it is the month of fasting is the first of Ramadan’s unique qualities, for fasting is the act of worship that Allah singles out for a special unspecified reward. Allah says in a hadith qudsi,
كل عمل ابن آدم له إلا الصيام فإنه لي وأنا أجزي به. والصيام جُنة، فإذا كان يوم صوم أحدكم فلا يرفث ولا يصخب، فإن سابه أحد أو قاتله فليقل إني صائم. والذي نفس محمد بيده لَخُلُوف فم الصائم أطيب عند اللَّه من ريح المسك. للصائم فرحتان يفرحهما: إذا أفطر فرح بفطره، وإذا لقي ربه فرح بصومه
“Every good action of the son of Adam is for him, except fasting which is for Me, and I will assign him a reward for it. Fasting is a shield. On days during which you are fasting, you should avoid having sexual relations with your wife or quarreling. And if anyone should seek to engage you in a fight or argument, you should say, ‘I am fasting.’ By the One who holds the soul of Muhammad in His hand, the smell that comes out of the mouth of a fasting person is more fragrant in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk. The one who is fasting has two delights: when he breaks his fast, he will be delighted on account of breaking his fast; and when he goes to meet his Lord, he will be delighted on account of making his fast.”
And it is an act of worship for which Allah has created a special gate to the Garden, for the Messenger of Allah has said,
إن في الجنةِ بابا يقال له الرّيّانُ يدخل منه الصائمون يومَ القيامةِ لا يدخل منه أحدٌ غيرُهم، ي
“There is a gate in the Garden called ar-Rayyan through which only those who fast will enter on the Day of Rising, and through which none other than them will be allowed to pass.”
The second major quality of Ramadan is that it is the month of the Qur‘an, for it was in the course of this month that it was sent down in its entirety. Allah says:
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِنْ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ
the translation of which is, “The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur‘an was sent down as guidance for mankind, with Clear Signs containing guidance and furqan (discrimination).” And it was during this month that the Messenger of Allah would recite back the Qur‘an in its entirety to Jibril.
Ramadan is the month of the Qur‘an but is also a month for Qur‘an. As soon as the month commences, the Words of the Qur‘an suddenly appear even more beautiful and their Meanings become even more clear. Our desire to pick up and recite the Qur‘an is reinvigorated and suddenly, where previously we found little time for it, during it we find plenty of time. So we must take full advantage of this and fill our moments with recitation and contemplation of the Qur‘an. Every one of us should strive to complete its khatm – in other words recite – or at least listen to – the entire Qur‘an from beginning to end – at least once in the course of the month and if possible more.
Third, throughout Ramadan, and for its duration, the Gates of Heaven are thrown open, the Gates of Hell are locked shut, and the Shayatin are locked up, as the Prophet stated in the well-known hadith narrated by Abu Hurayra:
إِذَا جَاءَ رَمَضَانُ فُتِّحَتْ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ وَغُلِّقَتْ أَبْوَابُ النَّارِ وَصُفِّدَت الشَّيَاطِينُ
“When Ramadan comes, the Gates of the Garden are opened, the Gates of the Fire are closed, and the Shaytans are chained up.”
This means that good actions are easier to do and the impediments and obstacles that normally prevent us from doing them are no longer there. The tide is with us, not against us, so take fully advantage to move forward along the path.
Good characteristics are amplified during this month and bad characteristics are less prominent. Without the whisperings of the Shayatin, forgiveness wins out over blame and generosity wins out over miserliness. When the Prophet, was asked which type of sadaqa was best he replied,
“صدقةٌ في رمضان”
“Sadaqa during the month of Ramadan.” So do not ignore those urges – now, even more so that at other times, you should fill your homes with guests and give help to those who need your help.
Fourth, it is during the month of Ramadan that the laylat al-Qadr – the Night of Power – falls. Allah says in surat-al-Qadr,
إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ، وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ، لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ.
the translation of which is, “Truly We sent it down on the Laytal al-Qadr. And what will convey to you what the Laylatal al-Qadr is? The Laylat al-Qadr is better than a thousand months.” So, this one night is better than a thousand months – the equivalent of an entire lifetime. And it is during that night that Allah writes down the decree of every thing in creation for the following year. There is no better time throughout the year and the reward for bringing it to life are immense. 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.” So be sure not to miss it – look out for it on the odd nights of the last ten days, for that is when it is traditionally said to fall, and do not leave any of those nights devoid of night prayer – at the very least, for those nights, strive to be at the tarawih.
Fifth, Ramadan is the cause of the Muslims coming together in community: old wounds and rifts are healed in the joy of sharing iftar and competing in good action. Through Ramadan, Allah brings people together and joins the hearts of the believers. And He makes that act of coming together and sharing food a source of even greater reward for us, for the Prophet has said,
من فطر صائما فله مثلُ أجرِه من غير أن يَنقُصَ من أجرِ الصائمِ شَيءٌ
“Anyone who provides someone with the means to break his fast, will have a reward the like of the one who is fasting without taking away from that person’s own reward in any way.”
And sixthly, it was in the month of Ramadan that Allah chose to give victory to His Deen, for both the battle of Badr, the first victory of the Messenger of Allah, and the conquest of Makka, the final victory of the Messenger of Allah, happened in the course of it.
These are but some of the many unique qualities of Ramadan and they demonstrate the degree to which Allah has honoured it. So let us take full advantage of it while it lasts – for while it may seem to stretch out in front of us, its times pass all too quickly and can never be brought back. Its moments are priceless – never forget that.
أقول قولي هذا وأستغفر الله لي ولكم ولسائر 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: “وَأمَّا مَن خَافَ مَقَامَ ربِّه وَنَهَا النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْهَوَى فَإِنَّ الجَنَّةَ هِيَ الْمَأْوى”
Allah says in His Mighty Book, “But as for him who feared the Station of his Lord and forbade the lower self its appetites, the Garden will be his refuge.”
True fasting entails more than just abstaining from food, drink and sexual intercourse – one must not only abstain from these appetites but also from all blameworthy characteristics such as envy, bitterness, and anger; and all the blameworthy actions connected to ones jawarih/limbs – the tongue, eyes, ears, hands and feet – such as lying, and listening to or looking at what is objectionable in the deen. A person’s fast may be legally acceptable but be empty of any benefit or reward. And it is to these people that the Prophet, was referring when he said,
رُبَّ صائمٍ حظُّه من صيامِه الجوعُ والعطُش، ورُبَّ قائمٍ حظه من قيامه التَعب والسَهَر
“So many who fast get nothing but hunger and thirst from their fasting, and so many who stand the night in prayer get nothing but tiredness and sleeplessness from their standing.” For where would the point be in denying yourself what is normally lawful for you while engaging in what is normally unlawful for you? As Imam al-Ghazali said, that would like building a palace while destroying a city.
This is emphasised further in other hadiths: The Prophet, said, “If someone does not abandon false testimony or false action, then Allah will have no need of him giving up his food or drink,” meaning that his fasting will be meaningless and will not be accepted. Jabir ibn Abdallah, said, “When you fast, let your ears, eyes and tongue abstain/fast from lying, from that which is haram and from (looking at) those who are haram for you. Avoid disturbing or harming neighbour and remain serene and at peace. The days upon which you fast should not be the same as the days upon which you do not fast.” In other words, true fasting is controlling your limbs and reactions as well as your bodily appetites.
This is with respect to action. However, the other thing that renders a person’s fast meaningless and empty is the lack of intention in it. There must be a firm intention that you are fasting, and fasting for Allah. And one must make that intention in the night before beginning the fast. You may not simply wake up during the day having made no intention to fast and then, because you have not eaten, say ‘I think I will fast today.” That is not fasting – that is simply going without food and drink. The intention must be made during the night before the fast commences. The importance of the intention cannot be overstated.
I would like to finish this khutba, inshAllah by reading from a khutba delivered by the Messenger of Allah, to his Companions. This khutba beautifully summarises everything we have tried to say.
عَنْ سلمان الفارسي رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قال: خطبنا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ آخرَ يومٍ من شعبان فقال: “يا أيها الناسُ إنه قد أظلّكم شهرٌ عظيمٌ مبارَكٌ، فيه ليلةُ القدر وهي خيرٌ من ألفِ شهرٍ، فرض اللهُ صيامَه وجعل قيامَ ليلِه تطوُّعا.
Salman al-Farisi narrated that the Prophet, said on the last day of Sha’ban just before the commencement of the month of Ramadan, “O people! A great and blessed month has come to you – a month in which there is a a night which is better than a thousand months; a month in which Allah has made it obligatory to fast and in which he has made standing in prayer during the night a voluntary action.”
فمن تطوَّع بخصلةٍ من الخيرِ كان كمن أدّى فريضَةً فيما سِواه، ومن أدى فريضةً فيه كان كمَن أدى سبعين فريضة فيما سواه، وهو شهر الصبر، والصبر ثوابُه الجنة، وهو شهر المواساة، وشهرٌ يزاد فيه رزقُ المؤمن، من فطر فيه صائما كان له عِتقُ رقبةٍ ومغفرةٌ لذنوبه وكان له أجرُه من غير أن يَنقُصَ من أجرِه شَيءٌ
“Anyone who draws near to Allah during it by means of a voluntary good action is like someone who performs one of the obligatory actions outside it and performing an obligatory action during it is equivalent to performing seventy obligatory actions at any other time. It is the month of sabr and the reward for sabr is the Garden. It is the month of generous giving and the month in which a believer’s provision is increased. If someone gives someone fasting something with which to break their fast, it will be as if he has freed a slave and he will be forgiven his wrong actions, and he will have the same reward as the one he feeds without that diminishing his reward in any way.”
We ask Allah to increase us in sabr during the month of Ramadan and increase us in right action. We ask Him to give us the strength and capacity to partake in its many lights and delights and to open our hearts to His Noble Words. We ask Him to give us the capacity to fast its days and the strength to stand its nights. We ask Him to make us from among those who find the Laylat al-Qadr and benefit from its rewards.
إِنَّ اللهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ، يَا أَيُهَا الذِينَ آمَنُواْ صَلُّواْ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِيماً. اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ وَبَارِكْ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ.
وَارْضَ اللَّهُمَّ عَنِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِينَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ وَعُثْمَانَ وَعَلِيٍّ، وَعَنْ سَائِرِ الصَّحَابَةِ أَجْمَعِينَ، خُصُوصاً اِلأَنْصَارَ مِنْهُمْ وَالمُهَاجِرِينَ، وَعَنِ التَّابِعِينَ وَتَابِعِي التَّابِعِينَ وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ.
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِ وُلَاةَ أُمُورِ المُسْلِمِينَ لِمَا يُرْضِيكَ وَلِاتِّبَاعِ سُنَّةِ نَبِيِّكَ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَهُمْ عَلَى الصِّرَاطِ المُسْتَقِيمِ، وَأَصْلِحْهُمْ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ.
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى شَيْخِنَا، وَعَلَى أَمِيرِنَا، وَعَلَى جَمِيعِ أُمَرَاءِ وَزُعَمَاءِ المُسْلِمِينَ.
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى المُسْلِمِينَ فِي هَذِهِ المَدِينَةِ، وَوَفِّقْهُمْ لِمَا تُحِبُّهُ وَتَرْضَاهُ يَا أَكْرَمَ الأَكْرَمِينَ.
اللَّهُمَّ أَعِزَّ الإِسْلَامَ وَالمُسِْلمِينَ (3) وَاخْذُلِ الْكُفْرَ وَالْكَافِرِينَ، وَانْصُرِ المُجَاهِدِينَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ. وَاجْعَلْ كَلِمََتَكَ هِيَ العُلْيَا وَكَلِمَةَ الْكُفْرِ هِيَ السُّفْلَى.
رَبَّنَا ءَاتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقَِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ.
اللَّهُمَّ لاَ تجْعَلِ الدُّنْيَا أَكْبَرَ هَمِّنَا وَلَا مَبْلَغَ عِلْمِنَا وَلَا تُسَلِّطْ عَلَيْنَا بِذُنُوبِنَا مَن لاَّ يَخَافُكَ وَلَا يَرْحَمُنَا
اللَّهُمَّ أَصْلِحْ لَنَا دِينَنَا الذِي هُوَ عِصْمَةُ أَمْرِنَا وَأَصْلِحْ لَنَا دُنْيَانَا التِي فِيهَا مَعَاشُنَا وَأَصْلِحْ لَنَا آخِرَتُنَا التِي إِلَيْهَا مَعَادُنَا وَاجْعَلِ الحَيَاةَ زِيَادَةً لَنَا فِي كُلِّ خَيْرٍ وَاجْعَلِ المَوْتَ رَاحَةً لَنَا مِن كُلِّ شَرٍّ
إِنَّ اللهَ يَامُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى، وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ، يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَّكَّرُونَ، وَلَذِكْرُ اللهِ أَكْبَرُ وَاللهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ. وَقُومُواْ إِلَى صَلاتِكُمْ يَرْحَمُكُمُ اللهُ.