The Month of Ramadan (with Sign Language) - Shaykh Abdul Hadi

Khutbah Opening

The Wisdom of Allah in Granting Superiority to Certain Times and Places

Brothers and sisters, it is from the hikmah and great wisdom of Allah that He gives superiority — fazilat — for some events, places, days and months over others, such as the day of Friday over other days and the month of Ramadan over other months. Likewise, places such as Makkah Mukarramah and Madinah Munawwarah as compared to other places. As a wise person, we have to take advantage of these things, and we also have the concept of preparation for these events, and we give priority according to the nature of the event or occasion.

For example, a student prepares before his exams, a businessman plans before trading, and a farmer prepares for his harvest. They all have a concept of preparation and they prepare according to their particular field, aim and target — what they are going to achieve with this preparation. Similarly, as a true believer, as we are soon entering the blessed month of Ramadan, we also have to prepare for this month.

This preparation needs to start from now on. We have to make a proper plan from now on. One of the objectives of this coming month of Ramadan is taqwa — righteousness, piety. So this month should be used to improve our training for taqwa. As this taqwa has a key role in our ibadah, in our worship, and no deed is accepted by Allah without having this taqwa. As Allah says, Allah accepts only from those who are muttaqi — pious and practicing.

Those who fear Allah, follow His orders, abstain from all kinds of sin and evil deeds which have been forbidden for us as Muslims — this is taqwa and this is the muttaqi.

The Blessings of Ramadan

In the coming month, according to hadith, it is declared that a person who wants to get all goodness should come forward, and he who engages himself in bad and prohibited things should give up these from now on. And indeed, Allah will make people free from hellfire on each and every night of the coming month.

So we should prepare ourselves to gain maximum benefit and should consider some points if we want to gain the pleasure of Allah.

The Two Neglected Bounties

According to hadith, there are two bounties of Allah but the large majority of people are careless about them. These are good health and free time.

Mostly, when people are enjoying good health, they don't bother. And when they have free time, they don't consider how they are using it. For example, there are some brothers and sisters who were physically fit and strong last Ramadan to do extra ibadah, nawafil, and recitation of Quran Majid during the month of Ramadan, but this year their health does not allow them to do the same. And likewise, some have free time but they spend it inappropriately. Sometimes three to four hours watching TV, dramas, movies — and they don't bother how they are using their time.

We are going to be asked by Allah about these bounties, how we are spending them. And we are all enjoying many bounties of Allah. If we want to count them, we cannot. Even look at our own body organs — Allah gave us good health and we are enjoying this. If you want to appreciate this, go and visit a hospital and see some patients, how they are suffering because of organ failure — maybe kidney problems, maybe other problems. So alhamdulillah, we have to be thankful to Allah for these countless bounties upon us.

Key Points of Preparation for Ramadan

First: Shukr — Gratitude to Allah

We need to prepare physically, mentally and spiritually before the coming month. First, we need to be thankful to Allah — shukr lillahi azza wa jal — for His countless bounties. If we realize the value of these bounties of Allah, we might try to be truly thankful. Such as good health, wealth and family life — these are all bounties of Allah. And one of them is the coming month, Ramadan. This is also a special rahma and baraka for us from Allah — to increase our taqwa, to increase our reward, to forgive what we did wrong. This is like an advantage for us.

In this month, according to hadith, as soon as we enter into it, the doors of Paradise are opened, while the doors of Hellfire are closed, and Shaitan is tied up. This is the season for good deeds. And if planned properly, you may be able to do such good deeds which are not easily done after Ramadan or in any other month. So if we are truly thankful to Allah for this month, then we have to show our efforts by increasing our good deeds and planning from now on — because some brothers and sisters enter into the month of Ramadan without any preparation, without any pre-plan.

Second: Strong Belief and Faith

If we want to achieve our target, we have to be firm and strong. The Salaf as-Saleheen used to prepare beforehand to engage themselves for the coming month. And if you read Islamic history, you will find many victories, achievements and remarkable things in the month of Ramadan — alhamdulillah. Such as the victory of the Battle of Badr, the first battle between Muslims and non-Muslims, and the victory of Makkah Mukarramah — Fath Makkah — which was the most important conquest. These took place in the month of Ramadan.

Therefore, Ramadan is not a month to waste time, or just fasting and sleeping and spending time inappropriately. This should not be our attitude. Because some of our respected brothers may consider Ramadan as a month to spend however you want — spending the whole day sleeping. This is not the case. Ramadan is ibadah. It is a month of revival. A month to gain the pleasure of Allah. So we want to utilize it.

Third: Tawbah and Istighfar — Repentance and Seeking Forgiveness

We should keep ourselves away from sinful and bad activities. We need to seek the forgiveness of Allah and do tawbah. Tawbah and istighfar are essential for every Muslim. According to hadith, he who regularly seeks forgiveness and does tawbah, Allah will ease his hardship and make matters easy for him, saving him from problems and difficulties, and Allah will provide for him from unimaginable sources.

(Sunan Abu Dawud, Hadith 1518)

But in istighfar and tawbah, the basic requirement is our realization. We have to realize what we did wrong, how we did it, and whether we are ready to give it up. Otherwise it will be considered like a joke — that we do tawbah but we are not serious, we are doing istighfar without showing our sincerity. The key point for doing tawbah is that we must refrain from sin and evil things.

So we have to check what is going wrong, what is according to Sharia and what is not. We have to abstain from prohibited things such as lying, cheating and backbiting — even in the month of Ramadan. Some brothers don't bother about what they are saying and what they do. And we need to keep our hearts and minds far away from hasad — jealousy — bughz — hatred — and adawah — enmity. Hasad is like a disease. Bughz and adawah are rapidly increasing in our community and society. So we have to clean our hearts and minds from these diseases. My brothers and sisters, these are considered evil diseases. So if we want our tawbah and efforts to be accepted by Allah, then we have to keep away from these problems.

Fourth: Ikhlas — Sincerity

We have to be serious and sincere. When doing any act of ibadah, the aim should be to please Allah alone, without associating anything or anyone with Allah. As Allah says:

Ikhlas is essential in ibadah. Imam Bukhari rahimahullah started his collection of hadith by quoting this hadith first:

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1907)

Whatever we do, our deeds depend on our intention. According to our intention, according to our niyyah, we will get reward from Allah. Quality is essential. So we have to make our niyyah clean — to please Allah and to seek reward not from people, but from Allah who is the Creator.

Fifth: Itteba' — Following the Prophet

Another point relating to this is that we have to be followers of Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ — itteba'. Because no ibadah will be accepted without following the Prophet. Regardless of the situation, regardless of the event, regardless of the place, regardless of the season, we have to be followers of Rasulullah, the last and final messenger of Allah. Do not innovate. Do not do anything as an act of ibadah from yourself. Before doing any ibadah in the month of Ramadan, or in this month of Sha'ban, or in any other month, we have to make sure that it is according to the Sunnah of Rasulullah.

Sixth: Keeping Wealth Halal

My brothers and sisters, another point which is very serious and critical is that we need to refrain and keep away from all haram — all that is prohibited according to Islamic Sharia. This is a very serious issue which can nullify our whole ibadah, our whole reward and good deeds, as well as our dua and supplications in the month of Ramadan or after Ramadan — if our wealth is not clean and halal according to Islamic Sharia.

With regard to wealth, Allah has warned us in advance to keep away from Shaitan because he is a clear and open enemy. And Shaitan is our enemy and he has declared that he will make every effort to misguide us. As human beings, we make mistakes and this is very serious because Shaitan is trying to take us to Hellfire — no doubt. Whether in earning wealth, spending wealth, or dealing with others in financial matters, many brothers and sisters don't bother about where they are getting their money from — whether it is halal and according to Islamic Sharia or not. Earning wealth is one of the serious issues affecting us today. We have to be careful about wealth — in its earning and its expenditure.

Otherwise, according to hadith, a person who is surrounded by difficulties and hardship raises his hands, asking Allah: "O Allah, remove these problems from me." But his dua will be rejected. What is the reason? Why will his dua be rejected?

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1015)

His food is from haram, his drinks are from haram, his clothes — what he is wearing — are from haram. Then how will Allah accept his dua? So before entering the month of Ramadan, before we enter this month which is full of blessing and forgiveness, we have to consider these points and make sure our wealth is clean. And this is not something between us and any government department or tax department — this is between us and Allah who is Alimul Ghayb, the Knower of the unseen. We cannot cheat Allah. We cannot hide anything from Allah. We can say things to convince people, but are we ready to convince Allah as well? We have to consider this point.

The Month of the Quran

Another point is that this is the month of Quran Majid. The final book of Allah was revealed in this month upon His last messenger as a final message for all mankind from the Creator, Allah. The Quran is a book of guidance, providing clear evidence to understand Tawheed, Prophethood — Risalah — the Day of Judgment — Qiyamah — and about who is entitled to enter Jannah and who will go to Hellfire. The Quran is the criterion for understanding what is right and what is wrong.

We should focus on recitation and understanding of Quran Majid. The lives of many people were changed in the time of the Prophet just by reciting or listening to Quran Majid. And this is ongoing — alhamdulillah — nowadays as well, many people, because of Quran Majid, declare that they want to be believers and want to accept this Quran as a book of guidance from Allah.

Such as in the time of the Prophet, the top leader of the people of Mecca, the Mushrikeen — Utbah — he wanted the Prophet to stop spreading the message of the Quran, and he came on behalf of all of Mecca to discuss this issue with the Prophet. After hearing his request, the Prophet said: "I will recite a few verses — now you listen." So he did. Utbah was shocked by hearing just a few verses of Quran Majid. And he said to the people who were waiting for him: "This is not poetry, neither is it an evil act of magic or fortune-telling — rather this is something very serious and very true kalam."

Just one sitting. And look at the cousin of the Prophet, Ja'far ibn Abi Talib, when he went to Ethiopia — the ruler asked him a few questions, and he recited a few verses from the Quran. Just from those few verses, the ruler Negus was convinced, as were many people around the area. They praised Islam and the beauty of Quran Majid. And even a group of jinn — when they heard Quran Majid, they accepted it and were convinced that this is amazing kalam, guiding them to the true path, the straight path. These are just a few examples to understand the power of reciting Quran Majid. As a wise person, we have to recite the Quran, understand the Quran, teach the Quran, and then try to convey this message to others as well.

Final Advice: Set a Timetable and Act Now

So briefly, we need to focus from now on to prepare ourselves before entering the month of Ramadan. May Allah give us the ability to understand the teachings of the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet and follow the best example.

Brothers and sisters, we are soon entering the blessed month of Ramadan. The Prophet used to fast in this month — the month of Sha'ban — as a preparation for the coming month. The Prophet used to engage himself for Ramadan. And many of the Salaf as-Saleheen also used to focus in the month of Ramadan especially on Quran Majid. So we should also set a proper routine and timetable to achieve maximum benefits and to please Allah.

We should prepare and make a proper timetable from now on. Try not to make our ibadah and worship just a matter of routine, but rather focus on many acts of ibadah — like recitation of Quran Majid, praying extra nawafil, doing dhikr, and especially dua — dua before suhoor, dua before iftar — and many other acts such as charity, because this is the month of charity, sadaqat. This is the month in which we show our kindness and care for those who are poor and needy.

So let us make the coming month better than what we did in previous years. Let us spare extra time for nawafil — more than what we did last year. Let us recite Quran Majid more than in the past. And let us understand the teachings and message of the Quran better than last year.