The Sermon Given By The Prophet (s) On The Last Friday Of Sha’ban On The Reception Of 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 Qiyamah (Judgement) 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 Judgement…

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

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

“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 Quran will be given the rewards of reciting the hole 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 (Saten) is imprisoned so ask your Lord not to let him have power over you.”

Recite Qur’an as much as possible

You who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may be mindful of God [Surah al-Baqarah: 183]

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh,

Ramadan is almost here! The build up and excited anticipation leading up to this great month of mercy is difficult to put into words. It is the month of ibaadah (worship). It is the month of discipline.

It is the month of Qur’an (recite it, read translation of the meanings, implement it). The best way to connect yourself with Allah is to read the Qur’an.

Shaykh Muhammad AlShareef said: if you want to know what your relationship with Allah is then look at your relationship with the Qur’an“

Recite Qur’an as much as possible
It is an opportunity to get more reward and wipe out our sins, by increasing our good deeds and decreasing our bad deeds.
Approach this Ramadan as though it’s your last Ramadan
No doubt, there are countless books, articles, and multimedia dedicated to Ramadan and fasting. I have selected a few I’ve found useful over the years and some that I’ve discovered recently. The main point is if you have been preparing for Ramadan, then mashaAllah, but if you haven’t, what’s stopping you?! The more prepared and organised you are, the more time you can spend on ibaadah

Types of Fasts

Types of Fasts

• Islam has made fasting obligatory for all men and women who have attained the age of Bulugh.
• To kill our low instincts and to help us acknowledge that we have a will power which enables us to abstain from certain things which if done will invalidate the fast. As a result it helps us to strengthen our will power against those things which are Haraam and cause us to commit sin if we do them.
• Brings about Unity amongst you and those living near you, in that while you are fasting you are aware that there are others close by who are also fasting and in the same way when you have Iftar there are others doing the same. It creates a feeling of brotherhood.
• As you feel hungry you begin to realise how the people who are poor and cannot afford food suffer daily in their lives and as a result of your fasting you may feel that you should do something for them. However, sadly we tend to forget all about our hunger at the time of Iftar when we eat a lot to make up for fasting; for this we have been advised by our Holy Prophet (S) to eat only enough to kill the hunger and not more.

WAJIB FASTS

1. Fast during the month of Ramadhan.
2. Qaza fast for the month of Ramadhan.
3. Fast becoming wajib on account of Kaffara.
4. Qaza fasts of a dead person becoming wajib on the eldest son.
5. Fasts becoming Qaza due to Nazar, Qasam or Ahad.
6. Fast is broken or left out intentionally.

SUNNAT FASTS

1. On all days of Rajab and Shaban or on as many as is possible to fast, even if it is only one day.
2. On 13th, 14th and 15th of every Lunar month.
3. The day of Nawroz (21 March)
4. From the 4th up to the 9th of Shawwal.
5. The 25th and the 29th day of Zilqad.
6. The first and last Thursday of every month AND the first Wednesday after the 10th of every month.
7. From the 1st day to the 9th day of the month of Zilhajj.
8. The 18th of Zilhajj - Eid-e-Ghadeer.
9. The 24th of Zilhajj - Eid-e-Mubahela.
10. The 1st, 3rd and 7th day of Muharram.
11. The 17th of Rabiul Awwal - Birthday of our Holy Prophet (S).
12. The 15th of Jamadiul Awwal.
13. The 27th of Rajab - the appointment of the Holy Prophet (S) to the prophetic mission (Bi'that).

Fasting is Mustahab on all the days of the year except on those days on which it is Haraam to observe fast. Some are mentioned below.

HARAAM FASTS

1. Eid-ul-Fitr.
2. Eid-ul-Hajj.
3. A fast kept despite illness.

MAKRUH FAST
It is Makruh to fast on the 10th of Muharram (Ashura Day).