Khutba on the Upcoming Month 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.
With the month of Shaban rapidly drawing to a close, it is high time we turned our attention to the approaching month, the month of Ramadan, the fulcrum of our year and the month whose coming we eagerly anticipate from almost the very moment it finishes. It is without a doubt the prince of months. The Prophet said,
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.” What makes this month so special? What causes it to stand out and rise above all of the others? Is it because it is the month of fasting? No, quite the opposite. Allah made it the month of fasting so that we might more fully take advantage of the blessed and exalted nature of its time. For there is no doubt that fasting has the capacity to alter our state and make us more receptive to the gifts our Lord has laid aside for us in the course of this immense month, gifts alluded to by the Messenger of Allah in the famous khutba he delivered in the final days of Sha’ban:
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.” This night is so replete with light and baraka that it is worth more than a thousand months, and that is not just any thousand months – a length of time equivalent to eighty-three years, but a thousand months of a believer, a thousand months of worshipping our Lord and obeying Him and His Prophet. A thousand months of good action stuffed into a single night. The moments of that night are immeasurably valuable and a person would be a fool not to take advantage, not to bring it to life and fill it with dhikr and prayer. This night, according to the majority of ulama and people of tafsir, falls on one of the last ten nights of Ramadan, usually one of the odd nights, so be ready. And make sure you get your portion of qiyaam al-layl – standing the night in prayer – for that night by at the very least coming to the tarawih. 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.
And do not neglect to recite Quran yourself. Indeed, make every effort to complete a khatm of it by reciting at least a juz’ a day. For Ramadan is the month of Quran, the month in which the Book of Allah 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 even clearer in this month, and our own capacity to hear, taste and understand them much enhanced. Many of the barriers between our hearts and the meanings of 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. This is itself a great honour, for fasting is a very special form of worship in the eyes of Allah. 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.” From all the acts of worship, Allah singles out fasting as being the one that is for Him. It enjoys a special status and those who do it enjoy a special station with their Lord not granted to any other, and are granted access to Him and His everlasting reward through doors not opened to anyone else. 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 will only those who fast will be allowed to pass and no one else on the Day of Rising.”
Then the Prophet mentions that this month increases us in sabr, the quality that enables to face down hardship and get the best of every situation, and 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.” We are no longer rowing upstream, the current is firmly with us and propelling us forward towards our Lord. So take full advantage. Give generously, forgive your brothers with whom you have grievances and re-establish ties.
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 so much more than most people 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 all you will get 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 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 the 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 it 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.