Laylatul Qadr

Pursa le leejiye, Ya Imam Zaman

Ghadeer Aaakhri Khuta Rasoolillah ka Sun leejiyae

Welcoming the Month of Ramadhan

Welcoming the Month of Ramadhan

The Sermon Given By The Prophet (s) On The Last Friday Of Sha'ban On The Reception Of The Month of Ramadhan.

O People!
Indeed ahead of you is the blessed month of Allah.
A month of blessing, mercy and forgiveness.
A month which with Allah is the best of months.
Its days, the best of days, its nights,
the best of nights, and its hours, the best of hours.

It is the month which invites you to be the guests of Allah
and invites you to be one of those near to Him.

Each breath you take glorifies him;
your sleep is worship,
your deeds are accepted
and your supplications are answered.

So, ask Allah, your Lord;
to give you a sound body
and an enlightened heart
so you may be able to fast and recite his book,
for only he is unhappy who is devoid
of Allah's forgiveness during this great month.

Remember the hunger and thirst of the day of Qiyaamah (Judgment)
with your hunger and thirst;
give alms to the needy and poor,
honor your old,
show kindness to the young ones,
maintain relations with your blood relations;
guard your tongues,
close your eyes to that which is not permissible for your sight,
close your ears to that which is forbidden to hear,
show compassion to the orphans of people
so compassion may be shown to your orphans.

Repent to Allah for your sins
and raise your hands in dua during these times,
for they are the best of times and
Allah looks towards his creatures with kindness,
replying to them during the hours
and granting their needs if he is asked...

O People! Indeed your souls are
dependant on your deeds, free it with Istighfar (repentance)
lighten its loads by long prostrations;
and know that Allah swears by his might:
That there is no punishment for the one who
prays and prostrates and he shall have no fear of the fire on the
day when man stands before the Lord of the worlds.

O People! One who gives Iftaar to a
fasting person during this month will be like one who has freed
someone and his past sins will be forgiven.

Some of the people who were there then asked
the Prophet (s): "Not all of us are able to
invite those who are fasting?"

The Prophet (s) replied: "Allah gives
this reward even if the Iftaar (meal) is a drink of water."

One who has good morals (Akhlaq)
during this month will be able to pass the
‘Siraat’...on the day that feet will slip...

One who covers the faults of others
will benefit in that Allah will curb
His anger on the day of Judgment...

As for one who honors an orphan;
Allah will honor him on the day of judgment,

And for the one who spreads his kindness,
Allah will spread His mercy over him on the day of Judgment.

As for the one who cuts the ties of relation;
Allah will cut His mercy from him...

Who so ever performs a recommended prayer in this month
Allah will keep the fire of Hell away from him...

Whoever performs an obligator prayer
Allah will reward him with seventy prayers [worth] in this month.

And who so ever prays a lot during this month
will have his load lightened on the day of measure.

He who recites one verse of the holy Qur'an
will be given the rewards of reciting the whole Qur’an during other months.

O People!
Indeed during this month
the doors of heaven are open,
therefore ask Allah not to close them for you;
The doors of hell are closed,
so ask Allah to keep them closed for you.
During this month Shaytan (Satan) is imprisoned
so ask your Lord not to let him have power over you."

The objective and subjective merits of the month of Ramadhan

To describe the objective and subjective merits of the month of Ramadhan, which justify its higher rank over other months, it is more suitable to refer to the words of the Almighty Allah, and His Last Prophet.

The Holy Qur’an says:

O you who believe! fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard (against evil).

For a certain number of days; but whoever among you is sick or on a journey, then (he shall fast) a (like) number of other days; and those who are not able to do it may effect a redemption by feeding a poor man; so whoever does good spontaneously it is better for him; and that you fast is better for you if you know.

The month of Ramazan is that in which the Quran was revealed, a guidance to men and clear proofs of the guidance and the distinction; therefore whoever of you is present in the month, he shall fast therein, and whoever is sick or upon a journey, then (he shall fast) a (like) number of other days; Allah desires ease for you, and He does not desire for you difficulty, and (He desires) that you should complete the number and that you should exalt the greatness of Allah for His having guided you and that you may give thanks. (AL BAQARAH: 183 to 185)

It is made lawful to you to go into your wives on the night of the fast; they are an apparel for you and you are an apparel for them; Allah knew that you acted unfaithfully to yourselves, so He has turned to you (mercifully) and removed from you (this burden); so now be in contact with them and seek what Allah has ordained for you, and eat and drink until the whiteness of the day becomes distinct from the blackness of the night at dawn, then complete the fast till night, and have not contact with them while you keep to the mosques; these are the limits of Allah, so do not go near them. Thus does Allah make clear His communications for men that they may guard (against evil). (AL BAQARAH: 187)

And men who fast and women who fast…Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a vast reward. (AL AH’ZAAB: 35)

The Holy Qur’an was revealed to the Holy Prophet (S.A.) in the month of Ramaz’aan.

Fasting throughout the month has been made obligatory.

Fasting is one of the "Waajib" (obligatory) rules of conduct laid down by Islam.

Shayk Suddooq (R.A.) quotes Imam Ali bin Moosa Ar Riza (A.S.) that he received from his Holy ancestors, on the authority of Imam Ali ibna Abi Taalib (A.S.), the text of the speech the Holy Prophet used to deliver at the advent of the blessed month of Ramaz’an:

The Holy Prophet (S.A.) said:

"O men and women! Draws near unto you the blessed month, overflowing with advantages, merciful, ready to put up your sins of omission and commission to Allah for obtaining His forgiveness. Its days, nights and hours, in the estimation of Allah, are more select, refined and important than the days, nights and hours of other months. It surpasses all months in merits and favors".

In this month you are the guests of Allah, enjoying His hospitality, you are from among His favorites, your breathing is "praise of Allah", your sleep is His worship, your prayers receive His approval, your invocations are sanctioned. So, sincerely, free from evil and sinful thoughts and actions, with clear conscience, pray and request that He may give your heart and confidence to observe fast and recite the Holy Qur’an and dua’as throughout this month.

He who does not receive mercy and forgiveness in this month is really an ill-fated unfortunate, condemned to everlasting unhappiness and deprivation.

Thirst and hunger you undergo, feel and live through, her and now, bring to your memory the severity and sharpness of the drought and starvation that will be the order of the day on the Day of Judgement.

Give alms to the poor and the destitute.
Treat your parents and elders with respect.
Be kind and loving to your children and juniors.
Take care of and look after your kith and kin.
Keep from giving tongue to that which should not even be whispered.
Shut your eyes to that which is indecent to have an eye for.
Turn a deaf ear to that which is too slanderous to be all ears.
Be compassionate, gentle and benign unto orphans so that after you, your children, if need be, receive the same treatment from others.
Turn repentant to Allah and seek His nearness.

After every prayer recite dua’s to invoke His mercy and forgiveness because the most suitable time to get fulfillment of desires is when you have prayed a salat, the Almighty gives answer to His servants who call Him in these moments.

O People! In truth and fact your bodies and souls are held in pledge, strike a bargain to set them free by asking forgiveness of Allah. Your backs are burdened with a hard to endure load of sins, prostrate yourselves in adoration of Allah, a great deal, to make the drag less heavy, because the Lord of the Worlds has given His word, in the Name of His Might and Honor, not to take to task those who pray and prostrate in this month, the flames of the fire will not frighten them.

O People! Whoso provides a meal to a faithful, at the time of breaking the fast, earns the recompense of setting an enslaved human being free.

O People! In this month, whoso makes better his or her morals will cross the "Bridge of Siraat" with ease and finesse, where people, at every step, would stumble and fall; whoso gives leisure and respite to his or her employees will receive equivalent leniency on the Day of Reckoning; whoso takes care of and looks after the orphans and relatives will be treated mercifully on the Day of Judgement; whoso prays optional salats will get the immunity from Hellfire, and praying of obligatory salats, in prime time, multiply the good in leaps and bounds; whoso recites even one verse of the Holy Qur’an, obtains the reward of a full recital of the whole Book in the other months.

O People! In this month, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the doors of the everlasting bliss and happiness are thrown open, so beseech Allah not ever to shut them off to our face; and the traps of the eternal curse are unhinged, so make a request to Allah to remove them from your path for ever; the devils are held in chains, so pray to Allah not to set them free for leading your astray.

The month of Rama’zan is very dear to Allah. It is the most august of all months, pure, generous and merciful.

Do not let its nights go waste in slumber, its days in careless omission or loss of remembrance of Allah.

Things which invalidate the Fast

Things which invalidate the Fast

1. Eating and drinking.
2. Ascribing false things to Allah, Prophet (S) or with the successors of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.).
3. Making dust reach one's throat.
4. Immersing one's head completely in water.
5. *Not fulfilling Ghusls that are Wajib upon you before Azan of Fajr prayers.
6. Vomiting.
7. Sexual relations.
8. Doing any such thing by which semen comes out.

* To intentionally remain in a state of impurity caused by Janabat, Haidh or Nifas up to Subhe Sadiq of a month of Ramadhan fast or its Qaza.

Things to avoid when Fasting

1. Eyedrops or Surma, etc whose taste or smell can be felt in the throat.
2. Actions which would make you physically weak.
3. Keeping a wet cloth on the body for the sake of cooling.
4. Snuff and fragrance from sweet plants and flowers.
5. Tooth extraction or any other action which will cause you to bleed.
6. A wet tooth brush for brushing.
7. Putting water or using any kind of mouthwash unnecessarily.

The above 7 things do not break your fast if you do them but it is better if you do not do them.

Rights of the Imam on the people

Imam Ali said to the people, "You and I have rights on each other. My rights on you are:

(i) You should stick to your oath of allegiance to me.

(ii) You should remain my well-wisher both in my presence.

(iii) You should answer me as soon as I summon you, and your rights on me are:

(i) Sympathy with and wishing well to you

(ii) Security of the Public treasury

(iii) Education and training". (Biharul Anwar, vol. XXVII)

Ramadhan is the month of giving and mercy

Verses of Qur'an

2:183
O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint.

2:184 (Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed number (should be made up) from days later. For those who can do it (with hardship), is a ransom, the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more, of his own free will, it is better for him. And it is better for you that ye fast, if ye only knew.

Ramadhan is a very important part of every Muslim’s life. Ramadhan is the month of giving and mercy, and during this month Allah blesses the believers with forgiveness and great reward.

This is a time to stop and contemplate, to look inwards and out, it is a time to set our goals. We should ask ourselves what we want to achieve this month, - something we will carry into our futures.

Achievement is accomplished by change. ‘How’ and ‘what’ we change are as important to consider as ‘when’ we change. Ramadhan gives us a huge opportunity to improve ourselves and gain rewards for our actions

Just consider how precious time is. Our time when used well can gain us much reward, but when wasted we lose something of unimaginable value.

Therefore, whoever is merciful and giving in Ramadhan, Allah will be even more Merciful and Giving towards them and will bestow upon them countless bounties and blessings.
All praises to Allah (SWT), Lord of the worlds. As revealed in the Glorious Qur’an, "Oh you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those who came before you that you may keep your duty to your Lord" 2:185.

There are many actions we can take during the month of Ramadhan which will benefit us immensely. One of these would be to take Sahoor (the pre-dawn meal) as there is great benefit in it. The greatest blessing of Sahoor may be that Allah engulfs those who partake in it with His Forgiveness, showers His Mercy on them, while His angels ask of Him to forgive and pardon them.

Reciting the Quran has much benefit as it was in this blessed month that the Qur’an was revealed to prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him).
"Verily! We have sent you (O Muhammad) with the Truth, a bearer of glad tidings and a warner; and there is not a nation but a warner has passed among them," The Holy Quran (35:24).

"Surely this Qur’an' guides to the way that is straightest and gives good tidings to the believers who do deeds of righteousness, that theirs shall be a great reward.” The Holy Quran (17 : 11).
The importance of the Qur’an cannot be presented in a few words. It is not just another book on the shelf, but it is the words of Allah, speaking to every one of us. It is direct contact with Allah Himself. This is what we should keep in mind when we read the Qur'an or think about it.
The Giving of charity also carries much blessing and the rewards, giving during the holy month will increase your reward immensely. Zakah does not only purify the property of the contributor but also purifies his heart from selfishness and greed.

The following shows us the importance of charity:

The Prophet said:'Charity is a necessity for every Muslim'. He was asked: 'What if a person has nothing?' The Prophet replied: 'He should work with his own hands for his benefit and then give something out of such earnings in charity'. The Companions asked: 'What if he is not able to work?' The Prophet said: 'He should help the poor and needy persons.' The Companions further asked 'What if he cannot do even that?' The Prophet said 'He should urge others to do good'. The Companions said 'What if he lacks that also?' The Prophet said 'They should stop themselves from doing evil. That is also charity.

Charity is not only giving money but following the above example will ensure you are giving charity as well as receiving Allah’s blessing.

• Give us the knowledge, the skills and the will to serve fellow humans.
• Give us the wisdom to comfort and console all toward peace and harmony.
• Help us to alleviate human sufferings.
• Give us the strength to admit our mistakes, amend our ways, and forgive others.
• Give us the devotion to serve the poor, the hungry, the destitute and the homeless with honour, love, dignity and piety, with patience and tolerance, with knowledge and vigilance, with Thy love in our hearts, compassion for Thy servants and desire for Thy mercy for all those who are instruments of Thy healing. (Amen)

If we look deep into our hearts we can see how blessed we are, with Allah’s blessing and your help Islamic Relief can help others.

Moon-sighting Dua

Moon-sighting Dua

When the crescent is sighted, turn towards Qiblah, raising hands towards the sky, address it as under: -

RABBEE WA RABBUKALLAAHU RABBUL A'ALAMEEN ALLAAHUMMA AHILLAHOO A'LAYNAA BIL-AMNI WAL EEMAANI WAS SALAAMATI WAL ISLAAMI WAL MUSAARA-A'TI ILAA MAA TUH'IBBU WAL TARZ'AA ALLAAHUMMA BAARIK LANAA FEE SHARINAA HAAD'AA WAR-ZUQNAA KHAYRAHOO WA A'WNAHOO WAS'RIF A'NNAA Z'URRAHOO WA SHARRAHOO WA BALAAA-AHOO WA FITNATAHOO.

My Lord and your Lord is Allah, the Lord of the worlds. O Allah for us let this month be a period of peace, faith safety and total submission to Thy will; make us walk apace swiftly to that which Thou likes and approves. O Allah pour out much blessings on us in this month, make available for us its generous good and assistance, and keep us safe from the harm, evil, misfortune and mischief that may try to trap us in this month.

Dua of Imam Zainul Abedin (A.S.):

He used to invoke the following Dua at the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan: -

All praise is due to God who guided us to praise Him, and made us worthy of it in order that we may be grateful for His goodness, and that He may, thereupon confer on us the reward of the righteous.

And all praise be to God, who conferred on us His religion, and distinguished us with His creed, and conducted us into the path of His goodness, in order that, through His grace we may walk along them towards His approbation - a praise which He may accept from us, and on account of which He may be pleased with us.

And praise be to God who ordained His month, the month of Ramadan, the month of fasts, the month of Islam the month of purity, the month of purification and the month of standing up (for prayer) to be one of those paths. In this month the Qur'an was made to descend, as guidance to mankind and contains clear instruction and distinction (between right and wrong).

And He manifested its superiority to all the other months by allotting it abundant honors and celebrated excellence: therefore, He prohibited in it what He had allowed in other months in order to exalt it; and forbade in it food and drink, in order to honor it.

And appointed for it a definite time, which the High and Glorious doth not to be anticipated before it, and would not accept if delayed after it.

Then He gave excellence to one of its nights over a thousand months and named it 'Lailetul Qadr" the night of Qadr (destiny), wherein descend the angels and the spirit by permission of their Lord, for every matter; peace and everlasting blessing till the dawn of the morning to whomsoever of His servants He will, according to the decree confirmed by Him.

O Lord, bless Mohammad and his Aal (family) and inspire us to know its excellence and honor its dignity, and to abstain from whatever Thou hast forbidden in it; and help us to observe its fasts, by restraining our limbs from disobeying Thee and employing them in that which would please Thee:

So that we may not lend our ears to any vain (speech-such as singing, etc.) and may not direct our eyes towards any amusement; and so that we may not stretch our hands towards anything forbidden, and may not step with our feet towards anything prohibited; and so that nothing may fill our bellies but what Thou hast made lawful and our tongue may not utter anything save what Thou hast permitted; and we may cease to exert ourselves except in that which would bring us nearer Thy reward, and stop doing everything save that which would protect us from Thy torment.

Then, purify all this from showiness loved by the ostentatious and notoriety desired by seekers of fame (so that) we may not, in our worship of Thee, join anyone besides Thee, and may not, therein desire any other object except Thee.

O Lord, bless Mohammad and his Aal (family) and give us grace to perform timely the five prayers with due regard to their limits which Thou hast enjoined and ceremonies which Thou hast prescribed, and times which Thou hast fixed; and in this respect raise us to the rank of those who performed them (i.e., the five daily prayers) with success, who duly observed their essential points, who always performed them at (proper) times, in most perfect and complete purity and most evident and touching humility, according to the rules laid down by Thy servant and Thy apostle, Thy favors on him and his Aal (family), concerning their bows and prostrations and all the other excellent (rites).

And, O Lord, give us grace, in this month, to show favor to our relations and do good to them, and to take care of our neighbours with kindness and benevolence, and to purge our property of obligations, and purify it by giving the legal alms; and to call back him who deserted us, and be just to him who was unjust to us, and make peace with him who was hostile to us-far be it from us to reconcile him who is abhorred on account of Thee and for Thy sake; for, verily he is an enemy whom we will never be on good terms.

And give us grace, therein to approach Thee by means of pure deeds, whereby Thou mayest purify us of sins.

And guard us, therein, from, relapsing into blemishes, so that, none of Thy angels may have occasion to report unto Thee but such of conduct as would (necessarily) fall under the heads of obedience to Thee and means of approaching Thee.

O Lord, I beg Thee for the sake of this month, and for the sake of him who adored Thee in it, from its beginning to the time of its closing, whether he belonged to the class of angels whom Thou didst advance to nearness, or of prophets whom Thou didst send, or of pious servants whom Thou didst distinguish, to bless Muhammad and his Aal (family) and make us, in this month, worthy of that which Thou hast promised to Thy friend out of Thy bounty; and entitled us to that to which Thou hast entitled those who are most diligent in Thy service; and place us in the class of those who deserve high and exalter (rank) by Thy mercy.

O Lord, bless Mohammad and his Aal (family) and restrain us from unbelief in Thy unity, and deficiency in glorifying Thee and entertaining doubt in Thy religion, and being blind to Thy path, and neglecting to honor Thee, and being deceived by Satan, Thy enemy, the stoned one.

O Lord, bless Mohammad and his Aal (family); and since, in every night of the nights of this our month, there are men whom Thy pardon doth liberate, or whom Thy forbearance forgives, therefore, let us be of these men; and let us be to our month the best of people and companions.

O Lord, bless Mohammad and his Aal (family), and obliterate our sins along with the disappearance of its crescent, and remove from us our penalties with the expiration of its days; so that the month may pass from us while Thou hast cleansed us, within it, of guilt's, and freed us of sins.

O Lord, bless Mohammad and his Aal (family), and if we deviate in it then set us right; and if we hesitate make us firm, and if Satan, Thy enemy, overwhelms us then deliver us from him.

O Lord, fill this month with our worship of Thee alone, and adorn its moments with our service to Thee; and help us in the day-time to observe fast, and at night to pray and beseech Thee and humble (ourselves) unto Thee, and abase (ourselves) in thy presence; so that neither its day may bear witness against us of negligence, nor its night of default.

O Lord, and let us be like this in all the months and days, as long as Thou keeps us alive; and let us be of Thy righteous servants, who will inherit paradise, wherein they shall live forever; and who do give what they give with a fearing heart, for verily, they shall return to Thee! And let us be of those who are prompt in charity and excel therein.

O Lord confers blessings on Mohammad and his Aal (family), in every time and every moment, and in every condition, greater in number to the blessings Thou didst confer on whomsoever Thou didst bless: Verily Thou art the doer of what Thou resolves.