Ramadan

Ramadan: Attaining Taqwa

Allah says — and if you fast, it is better for you, it is good for you.

And Taqwa — that's all we're trying to attain during the fasting. What does Taqwa mean?

The Three Levels of Taqwa

Taqwa is a word that has three levels, three meanings.

The First Level: Complete Submission to Allah

The first meaning is the basics — where you fulfill the basics of Islam. You worship Allah alone, and you submit yourself to Him. And in Ramadan, it's so clear that you fulfill that concept.

It makes, logically, no sense — what's the difference between 6:30 and 6:40? The difference is this: the Siyam is valid because it's on time, and 10 minutes later, after the time, it's invalid. But that's it — it's a submission. It teaches you to stand where Allah told you to stand, to stop where you're supposed to stop.

But three minutes only before Adhan al-Maghrib, I will break my fast? No, you're not allowed. Why would I stop drinking water? I'm going to stop eating? It's not up to you to decide that with your own logic. It's a full submission to Allah.

So that's basically something that Siyam teaches you — to attain that first level of Taqwa, which is that complete submission to Allah, and that you worship Him alone.

Yes, sometimes He tells us — everything He ordained, everything He prescribed, there is a wisdom behind it. Sometimes you know it, sometimes you don't know it. And that's where the belief comes, where the trust comes, because they know how knowledgeable He is, how wise He is. That's why I submit to Him.

The Second Level: Fulfilling Obligations and Abstaining from the Haram

The second level of Taqwa is to fulfill the obligations and to abstain from the haram. And fasting is about that. Al-Siyam is an obligation. Fasting teaches you to fulfill the obligation and to abstain from the haram.

That's why the Prophet said: if someone fasts and will not stop saying what is false and stop saying what is bad — using all these false languages and bad languages — and does the wrong things, then there is no point in leaving food and drinks.

So it teaches you to stop, to change, to stop saying and doing what is haram. What's fasting without praying? That's why you see the Muslim care to pray all the time in Ramadan. It teaches them to fulfill the obligations.

The Third Level: The Recommended and Voluntary Acts

Taqwa also has a higher level, a third level — which is when you do the recommended act and the voluntary act. Look how the Muslim cares for Taraweeh. Taraweeh is not an obligation — it's a recommended act, a highly recommended thing to do — and yet you'll see all Muslims care for it. You'll see Muslims looking to rush and hasten the Iftar, which is a Sunnah, and to delay the Suhoor, which is a Sunnah. Reading Quran, which is the Sunnah. SubhanAllah.

It's very interesting how Ramadan teaches you all these three levels of Taqwa. But that's just a push — so for you to pick up.

And this also teaches you that the religion — theoretically, we say the religion is divided into principles and pillars, then obligations, then after that recommendations. Theoretically, yes, that's correct. But practically, when you practice the religion, all of them come together. It's not like: okay, I'm going to fulfill all the obligations, and then when I finish the obligations I go to the recommendations. It doesn't work this way. That's the theoretical classification. But the reality is, when you start practicing the religion, all of this mixes together. It's called the religion — the Deen of Islam.

The Scholar's Definition of Taqwa

My brothers and sisters, some ulama said that Taqwa has three components:

الخَوْفُ مِنَ الجَلِيلِ — To have that respect, that respect mixed with fear from the Almighty Allah.

وَالْعَمَلُ بِالتَّنزِيلِ — That you practice what has been revealed to you.

وَالْقَنَاعَةُ بِالْقَلِيلِ — That you are satisfied with whatever you receive, even if it is little. You are happy with it.

And I always say — when Islam says you're happy with whatever little you earn or you got, it doesn't mean that you don't look for more. You're allowed to look for more. But you have to first be happy with what you have before you start looking for more. That's what these statements mean.

And to prepare yourself for the day when you will leave. And this is something Ramadan should remind you of. Ramadan goes very fast. And that's how your life is.

The Swiftness of Time and the Reality of Death

I just can't think — every year I say that, but still I'm in shock. We're fasting Ramadan next week and I'm not even over the last Ramadan yet. And you're going to fast next week. It's just so fast.

That's why Allah said: Ayyaman ma'dudat — these are very few days. And I will remind you by the end of Ramadan that it will go like this. So make sure that you prepare yourself.

I know some of you are young and healthy. But I tell you — death does not discriminate between the healthy and young and old and sick. When your time comes, your time comes. But the point is, your time comes when you're doing something right or wrong, while you're ready for it or not. And that is not in your hand. You're going to die, whether you like it or not. One day — today, tomorrow.

Prophet Musa — when the angel of death told him that this is the time for your death, he was panicking. He said: can I delay that? Then Allah said: how long do you want to delay? He said: make your hand wet and stick it on the back of a bull or a cow — and whatever number of hairs would stick to your hand, you can add that many years to your life. Then Musa said: then what? Is it going to die? He said: yes. He said: then there is no difference. I am ready.

So that's a reality that especially young people — and older — need to understand, so that you don't be so tempted and consumed by this life.

Preparing for Ramadan: Setting Your Intentions

It is so important for us to prepare ourselves for Ramadan. One thing I'll tell you that you should start from now is to have the good intention to do a lot of good deeds in Ramadan. Make sure that you have the intention from now. Why? Because — Allah forbid — anything can happen to you. You get distracted, sickness, traveling, whatever can happen to you. Basically, it is something that you can — if you cannot do what you plan to do, Allah rewards you for it anyway.

So let's say you're planning to pray every day on time — that's your intention and you're serious about it. One day or two days you get distracted — you still get the ajr of it. Your niyyah is to read the Quran and you did not — Allah rewards you for it. So make sure that you have the intention.

And by the way — you're not playing games with Allah. Okay, Sheikh Waleed, I have the intention to read the Quran 100 times — yeah, sure. No. You're playing games with Allah. Allah knows what you're capable of. Allah knows that you're just making this up and you can't do that. But something that I can do — it's within my ability — and I have the intention to do it.

And make sure that you aim high with your intention, something to push yourself a little bit more. You know what — last year I donated $5,000, this year I will push myself to make it $7,000. Last year I made one Khatm al-Quran, this year I'm going to push myself and make two Khatm al-Quran.

Just an average reciter of the Quran — someone who reads slowly but smoothly — if he reads every day one hour, he makes Khatm al-Quran every three days. For one hour straight, 60 minutes you read — but your reading is smooth, you don't stop, even if it's slow — you will make Khatm al-Quran every three days. It's not that hard, by the way.

So if you are quite fast — let's say every 10 days you read the Quran — you make Khatm al-Quran. It is possible, but you have to dedicate time.

Anyway, have the intention to do a lot of good deeds. Why is the intention so powerful? Because you get reward even if you fail to do it. Also, the second thing is that when Allah sees that your intention is good — and you are psychologically, because intention has to do with your inner self — so from inside you are determined, you have the will, Allah when He sees that from you, He makes it easy for you to accomplish what you want.

Allah doesn't look at your body as much as He looks at your heart. What's in your heart — if Allah finds goodness in your heart, He will give you goodness. Let Allah find goodness in your heart today, this week, before Ramadan starts — that I have the intention to do so many good deeds, and I'm serious, I'm determined, I'm sincere about it. So Allah will make it easy for you.

It's not easy to wake up for Ramadan. It's not easy to stay for the whole entire Taraweeh. Even though, alhamdulillah, in our masjid it's easy to pray the whole Taraweeh — because there are so many reasons. Alhamdulillah, the best of them is this beautiful community. And also, alhamdulillah, we always have good recitations and good reciters. The Salah is not that long, it's not that short — very suitable for people. So it is possible. Allah, if He sees that, He will make it easy for you.

Holding Yourself Accountable

My brothers and sisters, another benefit of having a good intention from now — when you have a good intention to do one, two, three things, and Ramadan starts and you're not fulfilling what you intended to do, you start to hold yourself accountable.

So if I have the intention — you know what, to pray every day in the masjid, I make sure that every day I pray Maghrib and Isha and Fajr — and I start missing, I say to myself: Waleed, don't be a hypocrite. You promised Allah before Ramadan that you will do that. So keep up with what you intended to do. You hold yourself accountable for your actions.

A Tip to Double Your Khatm al-Quran

Have the intention to make Khatm al-Quran. And I'll tell you one beautiful, easy way to do it — if you want to double your Khatm al-Quran, just a tip: you read the Quran every year — make another Khatmah, which the ulama also consider, and it's called Sama' al-Quran. Just download one of your Qurra' — for me, I like, for example, Sheikh Yasir al-Dosari — and download the whole Mus'haf. So what you do is listen to the whole Mus'haf. That takes me five days. That's a whole Khatm al-Quran. It's exactly what you do when you come and pray Taraweeh with us — you listen to the Quran. So this can be another Khatmah you can achieve.

A whole Khatm al-Quran just by listening to it. And you can speed it up too — 1.5x or 0.75x on YouTube. And it would be excellent even if you can read along with him, looking at the Mus'haf with your eyes. You can do that.

Don't Leave After Four Raka'at

Have the niyyah to make sure that you don't miss a Raka' in Taraweeh. Don't be among those who pray four Raka'at and leave. The problem — and what's really interesting — is those who finish after four Raka'at and leave. And they stay outside. What Allah has for you in the Salah is better than anything else.

And the Prophet said: if you pray and complete the Salah with the Imam, you take the ajr of a whole entire night.

(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 806; also recorded in Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 1375)

More Intentions to Set Before Ramadan

Have the intention to increase your Sadaqah this year. Have the intention to increase your attendance in the masjid, the number of Salawat, and the time that you spend inside the masjid. Have the intention to reach out to your family. Have the intention to forgive those who have done wrong to you.

I'll say that again — those who have done wrong to you. Somebody once told me: Sheikh, he did something bad to me. I said: yeah, forgive him. He said: Sheikh, but he wronged me. I said: I know — what do you think forgiveness is for? For those who have done good to you? Forgiving is about forgiving those who have done wrong to you. That's the whole point.

Have the intention to be connected with your family members. Have the intention to spend more time with your parents. Young people, listen to me — have Iftar with your parents. Come closer to them. It's not a given to have them. You're going to lose them one day. So make sure that you spend time with them, that you listen to them, that you take advantage of them being in your life.

Make sure that you also have the intention to protect your Siyam from anything that would invalidate it.

I can't emphasize enough on the importance of this issue — of having sincerity and a good intention before you start Ramadan. Because Allah says:

When there is no wealth or children that will benefit you — except those who come to Allah with a sound heart. May Allah make us among them.

Making a Plan and Executing Your Intentions

My brothers and sisters, one of the things that is so important for now is to think about how you are going to execute your plans and your intentions. You have to think about it. Oh, I want to read Quran — but okay, so what time are you going to read every day? I'm going to prepare. I'm going to put aside this time for the Quran. You know what — I want to stay in the masjid. Okay, from now, apply for a day off to stay in the masjid.

You have to make the plan. And it's a very good idea to have some kind of buddy — a Ramadan buddy — whether it's a family member, whether it's a friend. You know what, let's work on this together. So make sure that you do that and you plan for it, and you have a clear plan of what you will be able to do, according to your abilities, and being reasonable.

Because I'll tell you — you may delay, but time will not. Time will not. And Ramadan will go like this. Remember, it's not how many Ramadans you have under your belt — oh, I fasted 20 Ramadans, 30 Ramadans. It's not the number of Ramadans in your life that count. It's the deeds in Ramadan. That's what counts. What you do during Ramadan — that's really what counts.

Cleansing Your Heart: The Container of the Soul

My brothers and sisters, make sure that you free your heart from all illness. Free yourself from sins. Repent to Allah.

And I will end my khutbah today with this example — and pay attention to this example, because it was repeated several times in many references in the Quran and Sunnah.

Your soul and heart is like a container. When your soul — that container — is filled with something, there is no space left for other things to come in. If I fill a cup with sand, there is no place to put rubies, or gold, or diamonds, or rocks — whatever. It's already filled.

That's who you are. If you are so consumed by the haram, there is no space for good deeds to come in. You have to start cleansing, moving on. And guess what — how you fill your heart and your soul is through your eyes, your ears, your tongue, your thoughts, and your actions. That is what fills it.

So if your whole entire soul and heart is filled — let's stay with the lowest level — with haram things. You're listening to the haram day and night, you're watching haram day and night. And haram is not defined by me or defined by you — but by what Allah says is haram and what the Messenger of Allah said is haram.

And if your heart and soul are at that first level — another level, which is not haram but it's all about worldly matters — don't underestimate the dunya when it comes to the heart. If all what comes through your eyes, through your ears, through your tongue, through your actions is all about this worldly matter — it's all about your body, it's all about your clothes, it's all about luxury things, it's all about sports, it's all about all these things — regardless of how good or bad they are, if that's all what your body and your heart is filled with — the worldly life — there's no space for God.

Don't think that magically you're going to have a space for it, until you start cleansing and removing and replacing. So don't underestimate what you've been doing to your hearts all year long.

But alhamdulillah, the beautiful thing about this religion is that tawbah is a door which is open — which is that cleansing. Al-istighfar. You always have the opportunity to switch and to reverse.

Du'a

May Allah open our hearts to accept the truth and to be among those who worship Him in a way that pleases Him. And we ask Allah to forgive all our shortcomings. And we ask Allah to make us enjoy the month of Ramadan and to enjoy the ibadah during the month of Ramadan. And we ask Allah to forgive those who have passed away, and to heal those who are sick, and to guide those who are misguided. And we ask Allah by His names and attributes to bring peace to the world and to end all the wars and the injustice that we see in the world. We ask Allah to make us safe in our town, in our homes, and for all our neighbors. And we ask Allah to bless this masjid and the community of this masjid, and to bless us all and our families.

O Allah, protect us and our children from all the fitan.

Wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.