Jumu'ah Khutbah - Shaykh Abdul Hadi

The Final Days of Ramaḍān: Repentance, Supplication, and Charity

Just like the harvest time for farmers, Ramaḍān is a month of training to establish and improve our level of taqwá. Therefore, we have to continue what we have learned in this month about righteous good deeds, such as dhikr of Allah, recitation of Qur'ān-e-Majīd, and qiyām-ul-layl, and nawāfil, and many other righteous good deeds. So we have to carry on.

These last moments of Ramaḍān are very important, especially for doing tawbah. Otherwise, as in ḥadīth, a person has lost and he is at a loss, who has got Ramaḍān in his lifetime, and Ramaḍān passed away without getting forgiveness from Allah. So the most important thing is doing tawbah.

Sincere Repentance — Tawbatun Nasūḥ

If we want to turn to Allah, want to give up our sinful life, then even these last moments of Ramaḍān — these few remaining days — are enough for us to turn to Allah, to seek forgiveness from Allah. Someone who repents sincerely, his sin will be forgiven, as though he had not committed anything wrong. But the condition is, we have to do tawbah, tawbatun nasūḥ, according to Sūrah al-Taḥrīm, as Allah is saying:

"O you who believe, repent to Allah with sincere repentance."

Tawbatun nasūḥ means sincerity in tawbah, and sincere efforts to give up sinful life. So if we turn to Allah, Allah will forgive all our sins, including shirk, the major sin. If a mushrik turns to Allah before death, Allah is ready to accept his tawbah as well.

Allah says:

"Say: O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of Allah's mercy. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful."

And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

(Sunan al-Tirmidhī, Hadith 2499; Ibn Mājah, Hadith 4251)

"All the children of Adam are sinners, and the best of sinners are those who repent."

And also Allah says in Sūrah Ṭāhā, verse 82:

"And indeed, I am the Forgiver of those who repent, believe, and do righteous deeds, and then remain guided."

Allah is indeed forgiving to the person who repents and does righteous good deeds and remains steadfast upon them.

The Power of Du'ā

These remaining moments of Ramaḍān are also very important for making du'ā. Although du'ā can be done anytime, in any way, there are certain times which are more effective for du'ā. No doubt du'ā is a powerful tool for a true believer, and a strong connection between us and Allah. It shows our humbleness and belief in the power of Allah.

This is why whoever does not make du'ā will be considered an arrogant person. And Allah does not like these types of people — those who are not ready to ask Allah, and are not ready to make any link in their practical life with Allah. Allah says:

"And if My servants ask you about Me, I am near. I answer the supplicant's supplication when he supplicates Me, so let them respond to Me and believe in Me, so that they may be guided."

And Allah also says:

"Your Lord said: Call Me, I will respond to you. Indeed, those who are arrogant about My worship will enter Hell."

And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

(Sunan al-Tirmidhī, Hadith 3479)

"Know that Allah does not accept a supplication from a heart that is heedless and inattentive."

Allah is ready to accept our du'ā, whatever we are asking, if we are serious in our du'ā. Because some people feel their du'ā has not been accepted — if that is so, then there is a shortcoming from our own sides. For example, our sources of income. Maybe we are earning from ḥarām sources. This is a big obstacle to making our du'ā accepted by Allah.

You must make du'ā with full trust and confidence. It is best to make du'ā at taḥajjud time, before suḥūr. Wake up early in the morning and do some dhikr, or pray two rak'āt, four rak'āt, whatever as nāfil. Then think about what you are going to ask, to Whom you are going to ask, and how you are going to ask. Otherwise, some people perform du'ā like a mere traditional practice — they don't focus on what they are asking and how they are asking.

Charity — Ṣadaqah, Zakāh, and Ṣadaqat al-Fiṭr

To make our du'ā and our tawbah accepted by Allah, another important thing is that we have to give in charity to please Allah — ṣadaqah. And one of the signs of a believer is that he spends in the way of Allah. As Allah says:

"And from what We have provided them, they spend."

There are three ways to give ṣadaqah or charity in the way of Allah, especially in Ramaḍān:

1. General Ṣadaqah

For the poor and needy, with no minimum or maximum limit. You can protect yourself from the fire of Hellfire by even giving a piece of date. Can you imagine — a piece of date? Because quantity is not what is most important. Quality is important. Ikhlāṣ is important. Our tawbah is important. A piece of date can be a means to protect us from the fire of Hellfire. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Hadith 1417; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Hadith 1016)

"Beware of the Fire, even if it is by giving half a date."

Whenever you want, you can give — daily, weekly, monthly. There is no limit for general charity.

2. Zakāh

This is obligatory and is a pillar of Islam. It should be paid at 2.5% on your savings — not your income, but on your savings. It is to be paid annually and should be spent as mentioned in Sūrah al-Tawbah, verse 60. Brothers, be careful on this — Allah Himself mentioned how we are going to spend zakāh money. Not as you like. Not as charities try to spend as they like. Zakāh should be spent as Allah mentioned in Sūrah al-Tawbah, verse 60:

"Zakāh expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect it and for bringing hearts together and for freeing captives and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the stranded traveler — an obligation imposed by Allah. And Allah is Knowing and Wise."

3. Ṣadaqat al-Fiṭr

This is obligatory, to be paid on behalf of each member of the family regardless of age. On behalf of each and every person, it is equivalent to approximately 3 kg of food of the staple food of the country. As the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Hadith 1503; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Hadith 984)

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ obligated Ṣadaqat al-Fiṭr — one ṣā' of dates or one ṣā' of barley — upon the slave and the free man, the male and the female, the young and the old among the Muslims."

And he ﷺ said: whoever pays Ṣadaqat al-Fiṭr before the prayer of Eid, it is zakāh accepted. And whoever pays it after the prayer, it is charity like any other charity. The benefit of this fiṭrah is that Allah will forgive our own mistakes committed during the month of Ramaḍān, as well as providing benefit to those who are poor and needy, so that they can also celebrate Eid with all other Muslims.

Steadfastness After Ramaḍān

We must remember, brothers and sisters, that whatever righteous good deeds we did during the month of Ramaḍān, they must be continued even after Ramaḍān. Because regularity is essential for a Muslim. Because we are Muslim in the month of Ramaḍān, as well as in the month of Shawwāl we are Muslim. We are Muslim in the masjid, as well as when we go to family life, or the market, or to business — we have to be as a Muslim. Regardless of the event, regardless of the circumstances — happy or sad — we have to be followers of the teaching of the Qur'ān and the Sunnah of Rasūlullāh ﷺ.

And as Allah is saying, you have to worship Allah until the certainty of death — meaning the last moment of our life:

"And worship your Lord until certainty comes to you."

O brothers, blessed days have come — so congratulations to those who obeyed their Lord and did righteous good deeds in the month of Ramaḍān and did righteous good deeds for their Creator. And whoever repents, let him realize it now, in these remaining days. Beware of continuity, perseverance, and steadfastness in good deeds. Otherwise, some brothers — after Ramaḍān — it is as if they have no connection with religion.

Ṣalawāt and Closing Du'ās

Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who believe, send blessings upon him and give him peace.

"O Allah, send blessings upon Muḥammad and upon the family of Muḥammad, as You have blessed Ibrāhīm and the family of Ibrāhīm. You are the Praiseworthy, the Glorious."

"O Allah, forgive all the believing men and women, the Muslim men and women, the living and the dead. O Allah, honor Islam and the Muslims. O Allah, support the Muslims. O Allah, purify their blood, their wealth, and their honor. Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, we will be among the losers. Our Lord, do not let our hearts deviate after You have guided us, and bestow upon us mercy from Yourself. You are the Bestower. Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter and save us from the torment of the Fire. O Allah, we ask You for guidance, piety, chastity, and sufficiency. O Allah, protect us from all the trials of this world and the torment of the Hereafter. O Allah, we ask You for forgiveness and well-being."

Glory be to your Lord, the Lord of Glory, above what they attribute to Him. And peace be upon the messengers. And all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.

May Allah give us tawfīq and ability for understanding the teaching of the Qur'ān and following the Sunnah of Rasūlullāh ﷺ. May Allah accept our good deeds and forgive our mistakes. May Allah forgive our brothers and sisters who have passed away. And may Allah cure our brothers and sisters who are suffering from any type of illness. Āmīn.