Khutba on Ramadan, a Most Special Time of Year
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.
Ramadan is looming on the horizon. In less than two weeks time, we will once again welcome that honoured guest back into our lives. And there is no doubt that it is honoured – it is an unparalleled time of year, exalted and qualitatively different to the remainder. Your senses and inner eye would have to be totally dulled and ineffectual to not feel that. It is indeed the prince of months. The Prophet said,
سيد الشهور رمضان
“The lord of all the months is Ramadan.” What is it that makes this month different, that makes it so special? What causes it to stand out and rise above all of the others? Is it because it is the month of fasting? You might well think that, because the fara’id of Allah have a most special quality. There is nothing more beloved to Allah, and hence the places and times in which they are done have an elevated station with Allah. But fasting is a unique act of worship – it is for an act of worship that puts us in a state where are better equipped to take advantage of a particular time. It alters our state and makes us more receptive and open. That is why it is recommended on so many of the great days of the year. For example, the Messenger of Allah said, about why he fasted in Sha’ban,
هو شهرٌ يُعرض فيه حسابُ الأعمال على رب العالمين، فأحب أن تُعرَض أعمالي وأنا صائم
“It is a month in which people’s action are presented for reckoning before the Lord of all the Worlds. I would like my actions to be presented while I am fasting.” So he fasted because the time is special, it wasn’t his fasting that made the time special. And the same is true of Ramadan. Our Lord has placed the obligatory fast within this month because He wants us to take maximum advantage of the blessed and exalted nature of its time. For it is a month replete with wondrous gifts. Many of these are mentioned in the great pre-Ramadan khutba of the Messenger of Allah. He addressed his umma, saying,
يا أيها الناسُ إنه قد أظلكم شهرٌ عظيمٌ مبارَكٌ، فيه ليلةُ القدر وهي خيرٌ من ألفِ شهرٍ،
“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;”
فرض اللهُ صيامَه وجعل قيامَ ليلِه تطوُّعا
“A month in which Allah has made it obligatory to fast and in which he has made it recommended to stand in prayer during the night.”
فمن تطوَّع بخصلةٍ من الخيرِ كان كمن أدّى فريضةً فيما سِواه، ومن أدى فريضةً فيه كان كمَن أدى سبعين فريضة فيما سواه،
“Any voluntary good action that is done within it is like an obligatory action done outside of it, and any obligatory action done within it is equivalent to seventy obligatory actions done outside of it.”
وهو شهر الصبر، والصبر ثوابُه الجنة،
“It is the month of sabr and the reward for sabr is the Garden.”
وهو شهر المواساة، وشهرٌ يزاد فيه رزقُ المؤمن،
“It is the month of generous giving, and the month in which a believer’s provision is increased.”
من فطر فيه صائما كان له عتقُ رقبةٍ ومغفرةٌ لذنوبه وكان له أجرُه من غير أن يَنقُصَ من أجرِه شَيءٌ
“Anyone who gives someone fasting that with which to break his fast, will receive the reward of freeing a slave and be forgiven his wrong actions. Moreover, he will receive the reward for the fast of the one he fed without diminishing that person’s reward in any way.”
The first special thing the Messenger of Allah mentions with respect to this month is that it contains the Laylat al-Qadr, a night of such immense value that a whole sura of the Quran is dedicated to it. Allah says,
إِنا أَنزَلنَاهُ فِي ليْلةِ القدْرِ، وَما أَدْرَاكَ ما ليْلةُ القدْرِ، ليْلةُ القدْرِ خيْرٌ منْ 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 Laylat al-Qadr is? The Laylat al-Qadr is better than a thousand months.” A thousand months equates to eighty-three years, a lifetime. This night is better than a lifetime, and not just any lifetime, but a lifetime of obedience to Allah. The great mufassir, Mujahid, said,
كان في بني إسرائيل رجل يقوم الليل حتى يصبح ثم يجاهد العدو بالنهار حتى يمسي ففعل ذلك ألف شهر فأنزل الله هذه الآية. قيام تلك الليلة خير من عمل ذلك الرجل
“There was a man from among the Banu Israel who stood in prayer every night until morning then fought jihad against the enemy every day until evening, and he did that for a thousand months. So Allah revealed this aya. Standing this one night in prayer is better than everything that man did.” Each second in it is worth more than a night, each minute more than a month – its moments are precious beyond compare. Only a fool wastes such an incredible opportunity. Look for this night in the last ten nights of Ramadan, and as it is kept hidden and its date not known with certainty, strive to a least get your portion of qiyaam al-layl on all those nights by coming to the taraweeh. The Tarawih is a unique opportunity to hear the whole Quran recited, an opportunity that the majority of us almost never get outside of Ramadan, so take advantage of it.
The Book of Allah and the month of Ramadan are inextricably linked. It is the month of Quran, in it the Book was revealed in its entirety. Allah says,
شهْرُ رَمَضانَ الذِي أُنزِلَ فيهِ القرْآنُ هُدًى للنَّاسِ وَبيِّنَاتٍ منْ الهُدَى 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).” Those Clear Signs are never clearer than in this month, and our capacity to hear, taste and understand never so sharpened and enhanced. Many of the barriers between our hearts and the meanings inherent in the Words of Allah are weakened and removed, so make the Book of Allah your constant companion throughout its days and nights.
The second thing the Messenger of Allah mentions in his khutba with respect to this month is that it is the month in which Allah has made it obligatory to fast. We mentioned earlier that fasting is the act of worship that enables you to take best advantage of special times, but that is only one aspect of it. Fasting is special in itself. It is a unique act of worship, one which has an incredible rank with our Lord. Allah says in a hadith qudsi,
كل عمل ابن آدم له إلا الصيام فإنه لي وأنا أجزي به
“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.” This reward is reserved for them and no one else can have any part of it. The Messenger of Allah said,
إن في الجنةِ بابا يقال له الرّيّانُ يدخل منه الصائمون يومَ القيامةِ لا يدخل منه أحدٌ غيرُهم،
“There is a gate to the Garden called ar-Rayyan through which those who fast will pass on the Day of Rising. No one else will be allowed to enter by means of it.”
Then the Prophet mentions that this month increases us in sabr, the quality that enables us to face down hardship and get the best of every situation, and increases us in generosity, the quality that lies at the very heart of good character. The mu’min cannot help but finish the month with a better character than that which he started it. Every good quality is strengthened and increased while every bad one is weakened and diminished. That is part of our Lord’s favour to us, locking away those forces that negatively influenced us throughout the rest of the year and whispered to us to forget our Lord. The Prophet said,
إِذَا جَاءَ رَمَضانُ فتِّحَتْ أَبْوَابُ الجَنَّةِ وَغلقتْ أَبْوَابُ النَّارِ وَصُفِّدَت الشَّيَاطِينُ
“When Ramadan comes, the Gates of the Garden are thrown open, the Gates of the Fire are slammed shut, and the Shaytans are chained up.” So take full advantage. Give generously, forgive your brothers and sisters with whom you have grievances and re-establish any ties that have frayed or broken.
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: وَأما مَن خافَ مَقامَ ربِّه وَنهَا 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.”
We mentioned in the first khutba that one of the things that sets the month of Ramadan apart is that it has been chosen to be the month of fasting, but true fasting is much more than most realise. It is not just the abstention from food, drink and sexual intercourse, even though that is its legal definition – that is just the start, and those are but two of the seven jawarih/limbs of the body – the stomach and private parts. It is also abstaining from the appetites and wrong actions of the remainder – the tongue, eyes, ears, hands and feet. If you do not, then know that, although you have legally fasted, all you have got from your month is hunger. The Prophet said,
رُبَّ صائمٍ حظُّه من صيامه 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 loss of sleep.” There is little benefit in denying yourself what is normally lawful when you permit yourself what is normally unlawful. It defeats the whole purpose. The Prophet said,
من لم يدع قول الزور والعمل به فليس لله حاجة في أن يدع طعامه وشرابه
“If someone does not leave false testimony or false action, Allah will have no need of him giving up his food or drink,” And Jabir ibn Abdallah said,
إذا صمت فليصم سمعك وبصرك ولسانك عن الكذب والمآثم، ودع أذى الخادم، وليكن عليك وقار وسكينة يوم صيامك، ولا تجعل يوم فطرك ويوم صيامك سواء
“When you fast, let your ears, eyes and tongue abstain/fast from lying and any other wrong action. Do not harm your servants and remain serene and at peace. Do not let the day you fast be the same as days you do not fast.” And Umar ibn al-Khattab said,
ليس الصيام من الطعام والشراب وحده، ولكنه من الكذب والباطل واللغو والحلف
“Fasting is not just from food and drink, but also from lying, swearing, senseless prattle and engaging in anything that is false.” Do not forget these words and do not approach the days of your fast as you would any other day. Realise the month of Ramadan for what it is and approach its days and nights with the same awe and reverence that you would the mosques, for they are with respect to time what the Houses of Allah are with respect to place.
We ask Allah to give us the best of the upcoming month. We ask Him to protect all of our limbs from wrong action during the course of it, and increase us in sabr, generosity and all those good qualities of character that it magnifies and enhances. We ask Him to accept our fast and give us the strength and himma to stand in prayer and take advantage of its nights, especially the Laylat al-Qadr. May He make us all among those who bring that night to life and gain access to its lights and secrets. And we ask Him to unlock for us the meanings of His Book and make it our constant Companion throughout the coming month and for the remainder of our lives.
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، وعن أم المومنين عائشة التي أمرنا الله في سورة النور أن ندافع عنها، 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، 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.
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.