Khutbah titled “Do Not Miss the Fragrance of Ramadan.” He spoke about the
month of Ramadan and its final days and nights. He pointed out that although
Ramadan is coming to an end, there is still time for presenting offerings and pious
deeds during its blessed last days and nights. He added that in Ramadan worshippers
compete for gaining divine bounties and blessings and take advantage of the Night of
Al-Qadr (Night of Decree) and its high merit to please Allah and be saved from
hellfire. He equally explained that Zakāt al-Fitr1 is both important and mandatory.
Part One
Praise be to Allah! Praise be to Allah: Owner of creation, command, glory, and
subdual. We praise and thank Him for this blessed month and for keeping us alive
until we have reached its last ten days. We therefore praise Almighty Allah and thank
Him. We also ask Him to forgive us and protect us from all sorts of evil. We pray
Him to grant us more bounties and favours. I bear witness that there is no deity
worthy of worship save Allah alone without associate. May His name be glorified and
His pardon magnificent! I equally bear witness that our Master and Prophet
Muhammad () is Allah’s Servant and Messenger, the one who was best in fast and
i’tikāf 2 and who was closest to his Lord. May Allah send His bountiful Salāt (Mercy,
Honour, and Grace), Peace upon him, his family, his Companions and all those who
have followed their footsteps till the Day of Judgement!
Now then, O people! Observe taǭwa, for it is the best garment to be worn and is
our only hope when we depart this life: O you who believe! Fear Allâh (by
1 Zakat Al-Fitr is a required charity given to the needy at the end of fasting in Ramadan by every
Muslim, whether male and female, minor or adult. The head of the household may pay the required
amount for the other members.
2 Iʿkāf ( اعتكاف ) in Islam consists of a period of retreat in a mosque (to pray Allah) for a certain
number of days in accordance with the believer's own wish. It is most common during the month of
Ramadan, especially the last ten days.
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doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He
has forbidden) as He should be feared. [Obey Him, be thankful to
Him, and remember Him always], and die not except in a state of
Islâm [as Muslims (with complete submission to Allâh)]. [Al ‘Imran:
102]
Let it be known to you that you are doomed to appear before Allah on Doomsday.
Then, you will be exposed to close scrutiny for all your deeds. You will be rewarded
or penalised, depending on your own deeds. Whoever shows laxity or proclivity for
mundane affairs will surely regret it on the Day of Judgement. Let it also be known to
you that tombs are the site of utter desolation which only good deeds can dissipate
and substitute by delightful company. The darkness of the grave can only be
eliminated by taking advantage of propitious worship seasons (like Ramadan). Thus,
beware the temptations of the herein and let not this life distract your attention from
the hereafter. Surely, he who competes for pursuing worldly desires will never move
up the ladder of pious deeds.
Nonetheless, never lose hope because of the multitude of people doomed to
perdition and the supremacy of the godless: O you who believe! Take care of
your own selves. If you follow the (right) guidance [and enjoin what
is right (Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do)
and forbid what is wrong (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islâm
has forbidden)] no hurt can come to you from those who are in
error. The return of you all is to Allâh, ... [Al-Maîda:105]
O Lord! Give us remedy for our pitfalls, forgive our slips, and grant Your pardon
for the ignorance of those who sought help with anyone but You. Your pardon is so
encompassing that no sinner is able to escape from the sphere of his own sin except
through returning to You.
O Muslims!
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Although most of the month of Ramadan has elapsed, what remains of it is the
best. Despite the passage of its days, what remains of it secures salvation. Even
though its nights have passed by so quickly, there are still some (nights) during which
a worshipper can fulfil his hope. It is a graceful month whose hours and seconds are
imbibed with good; it is a great religious season whose moments are all blessed by
Allah. It offers a track for every competitor to hasten his paces; its race course is still
wide open for anyone (hindered by certain excuses) to join in the race again.
O Allah’s servant! You do not know the exact moment when you will be shaded
by its graces and perfumed with its fragrance; nor will you be able to know which
night you will be delivered from hellfire in order to join the righteous. Indeed, Allah
has imparted His blessing to the entirety of the month of Ramadan. Therefore, the
gates of heaven are still wide open to allow prayers to ascend thereto, and the angels
are still holding their pens to record all good and pious deeds. Thus, no fortunate
person will ever give up doing good deeds until he actually enters Paradise.
Worshippers and righteous people have never regretted departing this life except
when it has to do with missing such religious occasions. In fact, they have never shed
tears on departing this life except when they feel certain they will no longer perform
night prayers, fast during extremely hot days, and make jihad (holy war) for the cause
of Allah.
Now, you still have time. Have you made up your mind about how to proceed?
Keep in mind that you are still in the herein where there is room for further action. So,
what are you going to do? Remember that the same occasions had been presented to
previous communities, but they kept postponing action for some indefinite future time
until the agony of death took them unawares. Thus, they just became part of history
after having enjoyed capacitation and self-confidence during their lifetime. Allah
commented on such people by saying:
Lest a person should say: "Alas, my grief that I was undutiful to
Allâh (i.e. I have not done what Allâh has ordered me to do), and I
was indeed among those who mocked [at the truth! i.e. Lâ ilâha
illallâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh), the Qur’ân,
and Muhammad صلى لله علیھ وسلم and at the faithful believers]. (56)
Or (lest) he should say: "If only Allâh had guided me, I should
indeed have been among the Muttaqûn (the pious)" (57) Or (lest)
he should say when he sees the torment: "If only I had another
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chance (to return to the world), then I should indeed be among
the Muhsinûn (good-doers)” (58) Yes! Verily, there came to you
My Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.)
and you denied them, and were proud and were among the
disbelievers. [Az-Zumar: 56-59]
Quite certainly, one of the greatest effects of the month of Ramadan on the rightly
guided and successful servants of Allah is their return to their Lord and their
repentance (for sins). In an authentic hadith, Prophet Muhammad () said “Amen” in
response to Archangel Gabriel’s prayer, “Whoever witnesses Ramadan without being
forgiven his sins, let him be expelled by Allah! O Muhammad, say ‘Amen’.”
“Amen”, Muhammad said acquiescently. Thus, there is no choice but to resort to
repentance. In this regard, Allah says: And whosoever does not repent,
then such are indeed Zâlimûn (wrong-doers, etc.). [Al-Ĥujurât: 11]
O Muslims!
There remain a few nights of Ramadan which are likely to coincide with the Night
of Al-Qadr (Decree); so, do your best and try hard to worship Allah and do good
deeds. It is a little effort during a short period of night time, but its result will be a
bounteous reward and eternal bliss. Beware the erroneous beliefs about the possibility
of recognizing the Night of Al-Qadr through visions and dreams, for if Allah had
ordained the disclosure of the Night of Al-Qadr to His creatures, He would not have
kept it unidentified; so, just work harder. Do not merely depend on Allah without
doing anything, but rather take the initiative. Each single night of the last ten days of
Ramadan is expected to coincide with the Night of Al-Qadr, but odd numbers are
more likely to coincide with it, especially the twenty-seventh night. In addition, every
night Allah salvages a number of people from hellfire.
Prophet Muhammad’s () teachings about how to experience the last ten nights of
Ramadan represent the most accurate and perfect guidance. Such last ten nights are
sanctified by Allah Who eulogised them and promised abundant reward for worship
associated with them. As reported by Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim, “With the
advent of the last ten nights, Prophet Muhammad () would tighten his mi’zar3
3 Note that some scholars explained this Arabic metaphor as meaning ‘he would refrain from sexual
intercourse.’
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(wrapper)[i.e. keep awake at night ready for prayer], bring his night to life (through
prayer), and wake up his family (to do so).”
Prophet Muhammad () used to lead Muslims in prayer until they started worrying
about missing their saĥūr (last meal before fajr prayer during the month of Ramadan).
In addition, during the last ten nights of Ramadan the Prophet would make I’tikāf. He
would perform acts of worship day and night and, together with his honourable
Companions, try to identify the Night of Al Qadr. Prophet Muhammad () said,
“Whoever performs the night prayer on the Night of Al-Qadr with firm faith and
while seeking reward, his past sins will be forgiven.” [Narrated by Imam Bukhari
and Imam Muslim]
It is called ‘the Night of Al-Qadr’ because of its high “qadr” (great importance and
high status) and because of what Allah had ordained for all creatures, including the
(size of) means of living and the instants of death.
Allah revealed the Holy Qur’ān on the Night of Al-Qadr and endowed it with His
blessing. Allah () said: Hâ.-Mîm. [These letters are one of the miracles
of the Qur’ân and none but Allâh (Alone) knows their meanings]
(1) By the manifest Book (this Qur’ân) that makes things clear (2)
We sent it (this Qur’ân) down on a blessed night [(i.e. night of Al-
Qadr, Sûrah No. 97) in the month of Ramadân - the 9th month of
the Islâmic calendar]. Verily, We are ever warning [mankind that
Our Torment will reach those who disbelieve in Our Oneness of
Lordship and in Our Oneness of worship] (3) Therein (that night)
is decreed every matter of ordainments (4) [Ad-Dukhân: 1-4]
Allah revealed about it (i.e. the night of Al-Qadr) an entire chapter (sūrat) in the
Holy Qur’ān: In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful: Verily,
We have sent it (this Qur’ân) down in the night of Al-Qadr
(Decree) (1) And what will make you know what the night of Al-
Qadr (Decree) is? (2) The night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than
a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allâh in that night is better
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than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4
months) (3) Therein descend the angels and the Rûh [Jibrîl
(Gabrîl)] by Allâh’s Permission with all Decrees, (4) (All that
night), there is Peace (and Goodness from Allâh to His believing
slaves) until the appearance of dawn. (5) [Al-Qadr: 1-5]
The successful believer is the one who does his best and sincerely searches for it
by performing night prayer during all nights, for Allah never dissipates the reward of
the performers of good deeds. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that
Allah’s Messenger () said, “Search for the Night of Al-Qadr in the last ten nights
of Ramadan.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) also reported that: “Allah’s Messenger ()
used to seclude himself in the mosque for worship during the last ten days and said:
‘Search for the Night of Al Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan.’” [Bukhari and
Muslim]
Ubada Ibn Essamit () is reported to have said: “When the Prophet () went out
to inform us about the Night of Al Qadr, two men came into sight. So, he said, ‘I went
out to inform you about the Night of Al Qadr but so-and-so as well as so-and-so
came into sight; therefore, it was blurred and lifted. This might be good for you. So,
search for it in the 25th, 27th, and 29th night.’” [Imam Bukhari]
This is evidence of the misfortune brought about by disagreement, conflict and
division, and all that stands in the way of benevolence.
O fasting believers!
Make your supplications for Allah with utmost insistence for He appreciates those
who do so. Beseech, invoke and ask Him goodness in this life and the Hereafter for
your relatives, homelands, and for those to whom Allah has entrusted your affairs as
well as all Muslims. Make a portion of your supplications for the sake of those who
are distressed among your fellow Muslims, particularly in Syria, Palestine, and Burma
and for the healing of every bleeding wound of theirs. Verily, it is no surprise that
Allah lifts their distress in response to a supplication by a true believer to whom
others would pay no heed but who would be highly regarded by Allah.
Make your supplications for Allah with utmost insistence for He appreciates those
who do so. See how many misfortunes have unexpectedly been set right and how
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many oppressors have been struck by the fatal arrow of response (from Allah to the
supplications) before they could live to witness the next morning! See how many
deadlocks have so miraculously been broken!
Verily, Allah appreciates the devoutness of those invoking Him: And your
Lord said: "Invoke Me, [i.e. believe in My Oneness (Islâmic
Monotheism) and ask Me for anything] I will respond to your
(invocation). Verily! Those who scorn My worship [i.e. do not invoke
Me, and do not believe in My Oneness, (Islâmic Monotheism)] they
will surely enter Hell in humiliation! [Ghafir: 60]. In the context of
highlighting the merits of fasting Allah says: And when My slaves ask you
(O Muhammad صلى لله علیھ وسلم ) concerning Me, then (answer them), I
am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the
invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any
mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so
that they may be led aright. [Al Baqarah: 186]
Make your supplications for Allah with utmost insistence for He appreciates those
who do so, and maintain your submissiveness to Him: Invoke your Lord with
humility and in secret. He likes not the aggressors (55) and do not
do mischief on the earth, after it has been set in order, and invoke
Him with fear and hope. Surely, Allâh’s Mercy is (ever) near unto
the good-doers. [Al Aaraf: 55-56]
Aisha –may Allah be pleased with her– reported that she once asked the Prophet
(): “O Messenger of Allah! If I knew which night (of Ramadan) is the Night of Qadr,
what should I say?” He replied: “Say OAllah! You are Most Forgiving and You love
forgiveness; so forgive me.” [Hadith sahih on the authority of Imam Ahmad,
Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah]
May Allah bless you and me by the Qur'ān and Sunnah and benefit us with their
verses and wisdom! Having said this, I ask Allah () to forgive me and you!
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Part Two
Praise be to Allah, the Possessor of heavenly glory, and thanks are ever due to
Him! I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone with
no associate. I also bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger, the
best among those who have ever fasted, undertaken night prayers, given zakat and
worshipped Allah. May Allah send His Salat (Graces, Honours, Mercy), Peace and
Blessings upon him, his family and his Companions, those men of merit and honour,
and upon those who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment!
O Muslims!
Allah, may He be exalted, has legislated for you at the end of your month
(Ramadan) the undertaking of zakat al-fitr, which is unanimously decreed (by Muslim
scholars) as an obligation incumbent on every Muslim. Indeed, Zakat al-Fitr
constitutes one of the bright facets of this great religion where Eid4is for all, the poor
and the rich, the haves and the have-nots.
For Eid to be a genuine festivity and celebration it must bring joy and happiness to
all. Abu Dawood and Ibn Majah reported that the Prophet () “made zakat Al fitr an
obligation in order to cleanse the fasting Muslim from previously committed acts of
falsity and obscenity and to feed the needy.”
Therefore, make certain –may Allah have mercy on you– that your zakat reaches
those who are duly entitled to it. With respect to the value thereof it is estimated at
one saa’ (equivalent to 2.5 kilograms) of dates, barley or whatever the staple food
such as wheat or rice. Zakat al-Fitr is to be delivered locally. However, it is
permissible to deliver it outside the country of the fasting Muslim where there is more
need for it. With respect to zakat delivery time, it should be one or two days prior to
Eid day up until before the Eid Prayer time.
Then, make certain to perform Eid prayer in congregation with the rest of the
Muslims and to bring along your children and wives as it is one of those manifest
rituals of Muslims. It is also part of the Prophet’s sunnah to make takbir5 during the
night of Eid up until the morning of that day and before the arrival of the Imam.
Takbir is to be carried out loudly and in public (in the markets and streets). In this
4 Eid al-Fitr (Feast of Breaking the Fast) is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims
worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan.
5 To say Allahu Akbar _ لله أكبر _ (Allah is Great).
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context Allah () says: (He wants that you) must complete the same
number (of days), and that you must magnify Allâh [i.e. to
say Takbîr(Allâhu Akbar; Allâh is the Most Great] for having guided
you so that you may be grateful to Him. [Al Baqara: 185]
Muslims’festivities are different from those of Jahiliya6in that they are meant to be
a means of establishing closer rapport with Allah and to worship Him. Such festivities
feature the exaltation and mentioning of Allah through takbir in both Eids7,
performing congregational prayer, delivering zakat al-Fitr, showing joy and
happiness for being blessed with Islam and the ability to fast successfully.
Let us rejoice then, thank Allah for enabling us to carry out our fasting, and ask
Him to accept our worship in this regard and grant us a happy ending.
Remember that Allah gave you a command, which He Himself started as He said:
Allâh sends His Salât (Graces, Honours, Blessings, Mercy) on the Prophet
(Muhammad صلى لله علیھ وسلم ), and also His angels (ask Allâh to bless and
forgive him). O you who believe! Send your Salât[1] on (ask Allâh to bless)
him (Muhammad صلى لله علیھ وسلم ), and (you should) greet (salute) him with
the Islâmic way of greeting(salutation, i.e. As-Salâmu ‘Alaikum. [Al Ahzab:
56]
O Allah! Send Your Salat (Graces, honours and Mercy), Peace and Blessing on
Your Servant and Messenger, Muhammad, and on his good and pure family! O Allah!
Be pleased with all of Your Messenger’s Companions and those who followed them
in righteousness until the Day of Judgement!
6 It is the Arabic label given to the pre-Islamic era.
7 They are Eid al-Fitr (see footnote 4) and Eid al-Adhā. Eid al-Adhā ( عید الأضحى ʻĪd al-’Aḍḥá, i.e. Feast of
the Sacrifice, the Greater Eid) is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to
honour the willingness of prophet Ibrāhīm __ (Abraham) to sacrifice his young first-born son
Ismā’īl __ (Ishmael) as an act of submission to Allah’s command and his son's acceptance to being
sacrificed, before Allah intervened to provide Ibrāhīm with a lamb to sacrifice instead. In the lunar
Islamic calendar, Eid al-Adhā falls on the 10th day of Dhul al-Hijjah (12th month) and lasts for four
days. Note that in the Gregorian calendar, the dates vary from year to year, driing approximately 11
days earlier each year.
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O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims! O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and
Muslims and fail tyrants, infidels and corruptors! O Allah! Grant glory to Your
Religion, Your Book and the Sunnah of Your Prophet and Your believing servants!
O Allah! Foreordain for this nation (the nation of Islam) a matter (an affair) of
rationality (guidance) whereby the people of piety are honoured and sinful people are
guided, and whereby al-ma’roof (good deeds) is enjoined and al-munkar (evil deeds)
is prevented! O Lord of the Worlds!
O Allah! Grant victory to the Mujahideen in Your cause in Palestine and
everywhere! O Allah! Lift the siege around them, improve their conditions, and
suppress their enemy!
O Allah! We beseech You by Your Supreme Name to have mercy on our brothers
and sisters in Syria! O Allah! Have mercy on our brothers and sisters in Syria! O
Allah! Lift their distress and grant them speedy relief! O Allah! Have mercy on them,
for they are defenseless! Mend their breakage and take charge of their case, You, the
Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate!
O Allah! Lift the siege around them, spare their blood, reassure them, feed the
hungry among them, preserve their dignity and honour, strengthen their stamina, and
grant them power and victory over their oppressors!
O Allah! Set right their conditions, unite them around righteousness, and protect
them against the evil doers among them! O Allah! Suppress their enemy! O Allah!
Suppress their enemy! O Allah! Defeat the tyrants and oppressors and those who side
with them! O Allah! Defeat the tyrants and oppressors and those who side with them!
O Allah! Liberate Al-Aqsa Mosque from the oppressors’ injustice and the
occupiers’ aggression!
O Allah! Improve the conditions of our Muslim brothers and sisters in Egypt and
everywhere! O Allah! Bring them close together on the paths of righteousness and
guidance! O Allah! Set right their conditions and protect them against the evil doers
among them!
O Allah! Guide our leader, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to do
whatever you love and accept! O Allah! Guide him to piety and righteousness! O
Allah! Grant him, his Crown Prince, his brothers and assistants success to do what is
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good for the people and the country and reward them with blessings for the efforts
they are investing in the service of the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors!
O Allah! Grant success to our security forces and to those working in the service of
the visitors of the Two Holy Mosques and those coming to perform Umrah, and
bestow on them profuse rewards!
O Allah! Grant success to all the leaders of Muslims in order to govern by Your
Sharia and follow the Sunnah of Your Prophet ()! O Allah! Make them a Mercy on
Your true servants!
O Allah! Make safe and prosperous our country and those of all Muslims around
the world! Protect us against the evil of wrongdoers, the maliciousness of the
lecherous and the evil of those plotting to carry it out by day or night! Our Lord!
Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that
which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire! [Al
Baqarah: 201]
O Allah! Forgive our sins, cover our flaws, make easy our affairs and make come
true our wishes in what pleases You!
Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and our transgressions (in keeping
our duties to You), establish our feet firmly, and give us victory over
the disbelieving folks. [Al Omran: 147]
O Allah! Forgive our sins, those of our parents, our grandparents, our wives and
children, You are All-Hearing!
O Allah! We ask You to be pleased with us and grant us Your paradise, and we
seek refuge in You against Your wrath and hellfire!
O Allah! Grant us, our loved ones, those who urged us to make supplication for
them, and all those to whom we are indebted the most of whatever good we have
implored you to bestow on us throughout this holy month!
O Allah! Grant us success to observe prayer during the Night of Al-Qadr! O Allah!
We implore you to accept our good deeds and spare us the torment of hellfire!
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O Allah! We beseech you to accept our fasting, night prayers, supplications and
good deeds as You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing! O Allah! Do accept our
repentance as You are Most Forgiving, Most Merciful!
Glorified be your Lord, the Lord of Honour and Power! You are free from what
they attribute unto You! May peace be upon all the messengers! And all praise be to
Allah, the Lord of the Worlds!
Friday Khutbah titled “What then, now that Ramadan is over?” After talkingabout
the end of Ramadan, he stressed the need for considering what should be done after it.
He also pointed out that bad deeds should be followedby good deeds inorderfor
themto be erased. In so doing, one should remain simultaneously expectant of Allah’s
reward but also fearful of His punishment. The Sheikh also emphasised the
importance of regularly observing worship duties and disciplining oneself to perform
them and avoid committing sins.
Part One
Praise be to Allah: (... Cleaver of the daybreak. He has appointed the
night for resting, and the sun and the moon for reckoning.[Al-
Anâam: 96]. He alternates the day and the nightproviding a lesson to clear-sighted
people. Due praise be to Him in the herein and the hereafter. He alone has the power
to ordain and unto Him shall all creatures return. I bear witness that there is no deity
worthy of worship save Allah alone with no associate. I equally bear witness that our
Master and Prophet Muhammad () is Allah’s Servant and Messenger, the best
fasting Muslim and the best performer of pilgrimage, prayers, and Qiyām (voluntary
night prayer). May Allah send His most favourite and immaculate Salat(Grace,
Honours, Mercy) and Peace onto him, his kind and chaste family, his Companions,
the tabi’īn (contemporaries of the Prophet’s [] Companions after his death), and all
those who follow themrighteously till Doomsday!
Now then,
I advise you –O people– and myself to observe taqwā(fear of disobeying Allah’s
commands []). It is indeed the provisions of the followers (of the StraightPath)and
the equipment enabling Muslims to remember Allah. Withtaqwā, higher ranks are
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achieved and sins as well asbad deedsareerased: Verily, he who fears Allâh
with obedience to Him (by abstaining from sins and evil deeds, and
by performing righteous good deeds), and is patient, then surely,
Allâh makes not the reward of the Muhsinûn (good-doers) to be
lost."[Yûssef: 90]
O people!
There is an irrevocable divine law of alternatingthe days (power, rule,
authority)betweenpeople, for Allah ‘brings the night as a cover over the
day, seeking it rapidly’1. In the flow of time, one shifts from some provisions to
others and from one act of worship to another, benefiting from each occasion to
perform further good deeds. In fact, there seems to be something like a competition
track where people are trying to outperform each other,fortimeisflyingby and laziness
is the exclusive cause of missing opportune moments for performing more good
deeds. By the same token, the latter can only be achieved through assiduity and
determination.
Everybody is working (in this life), butsome people are sellingout their souls (to the
devil) while othersaredoing their best toset them free (from the shackles of worldly
life)orindulgingthem in mortal sins. Those who fail to seize the opportunity of the
seasons of good deeds (such as Ramadan) are those who follow their own desires and
ask Allah to grant them overoptimistic wishes (without making an effort).
This worldly life is like a set dinner-table where hunger can be hardly satiated and
craving for food is incessant. He who follows the footsteps of his exemplary leader,
Prophet Muhammad (),will have responded positively to his Lord’s command:
And worship your Lord until there comes unto you the certainty
(i.e. death).[Al-Hîjr: 99]
O people!
Time flies, leaving no trace behind. Bygone moments are bygones. Very recently, we
have beenfilling our lungs as much as we could with the fragrant breeze of the
1 This expression is borrowed from the Chapter(surat) Al-A’raf: 54.
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graceful month of Ramadan. Both our ears and eyes were imbued with its scented
inspiration. Some performed few devotional acts; others, however,perfumedmany.
Nevertheless, Allah’s eternal laws regulating the universe attest to the rule that there
is an end toeverything. As a matter of fact, perfection is inevitably prone to defection.
Everything will perish save Allah’s face ().2He is the ultimate in existence and
nothing ensues Him, for none is eternal save the Living, the Immortal: And the
moon, We have measured for it mansions (to traverse) till it returns
like the old dried curved date stalk.[Yassîn: 39]
Ramadan’s register for the worshippers’ deeds has now been folded up, and its
marketplace –which was then abundantly supplied with commodities and good deeds–
has now been shut down. Some have gained; somehave lost; still others havebeen
deprived of Allah’s favours. Therefore, he who adored Ramadan for its own sake
should know that Ramadan is over, and he who adored Allah has to know that Allah
is the Lord of all months. Indeed, how wretched a community becomes when it
cherishes knowledge of Allah exclusively in Ramadan. This is because we are
enjoined to perform the same basic acts of worship in Ramadan as well as in the rest
of the lunar months, save that during Ramadan –unlike the rest of the lunar months–
such devotional acts tend to form a harmonious whole characterised by unique
features.
Obviously, our Munificent Creator has encouraged us to perform the following
acts of worship in the rest of the months rather than exclusively in Ramadan: charity,
qiyām, voluntary fast (during other lunar months), recitation of the Holy Qur’ān,
tasbīħ3 and tahlīl4along with all other sorts of graceful deeds. In this particular vein,
authentic narrations affirm that Prophet Muhammad () was the most generous of all
–that is to say, in his lifetime in general– but he waseven moregenerousin Ramadan.
Consequently, it would be shameful for anyone to weaken after strength and
commit evil deeds after doinggoodones. Unlike other people who may adopt extreme
options, the inspired believer is the one who experiences fear (of divine punishment)
and expectation (of divine reward) in total moderation. He worships Allah constantly
and in all circumstances. He performs supplementary acts of worship whenever the
moment is opportune but remains moderately balanced in periods of ordinary activity.
He is indefatigable in worship and performs successive good deeds. His post-
Ramadan behaviour and activity reflect Allah’s satisfaction with his good deeds
2Again, this expression is borrowed from theChapter Al-Qasas: 88.
3 Glorification of Allah by saying subħānallāh( سبحان لله – Glorified/Exalted be Allah).
4Utterance of the formula lāilāhaillallāh ( لا إلھ إلا لله - There is no deity save Allah).
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during Ramadan because he managed to refrain from degrading himself after having
already achieved positive results.Thus, he would not commit the error against which
Allah warned us: And be not like her who undoes the thread which
she has spun, after it has become strong ...[An-Naĥl: 92]
May Allah bless anyone who holds fast to the worship of his Lord after Ramadan,
without breaching the covenant he has concluded with his Creator as regards sincere
repentance, request of divine pardon, and salvation from hellfire, because
vaindesiresare intriguing. Conversely, whoever sticks to the non-severable bond with
Allah will be immune from his instinctive desires and will be able to establish an
unbreakable link with Allah which will resist dissolution despite the ebb and flow of
time. As a result, he will acquire the ability to perform worship duties on a regular
basis and discipline himself to adapt to them through observing their precise timing
and identifying their order of priority without fatigueorboredom.
If piousdeeds require perseverance and patience, observing them regularly
requiresgreaterperseverance and extraordinary patience: Verily, those who say:
"Our Lord is Allâh (Alone)," and then they stand firm,[1] on them
the angels will descend (at the time of their death) (saying): "Fear
not, nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you
have been promised!(30)"We have been your friends in the life of
this world and are (so) in the Hereafter. Therein you shall have (all)
that your inner-selves desire, and therein you shall have (all) for
which you ask.”[Fûṧṧilat: 30-31]
O you, who have opted for tawbah (repentance)! Beware, and never return after
Ramadan to suckling on the breast of disability and laziness after a month of weaning
from them, for suffering a relapse is far more serious than the ailment itself and a sin
after tawbah would be more disgraceful than those committed before it.
Verily, those of you who were keen to carry out exhortation throughout the month
of Ramadan would certainly reap the benefit therefrom and would be in a better
position to bolster their chances of perseverance down the path of righteousness in
this life and everlasting blissfulness in the Hereafter: Allâh will keep firm
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those who believe, with the word that stands firm in this world (i.e.
they will keep on worshipping Allâh Alone and none else), and in
the Hereafter. And Allâh will cause to go astray those who are
Zâlimûn(polytheists and wrong-doers), and Allâh does what He
wills. [Ibrahim: 27]
May Allah bless you and me by the Qur'ān and the Sunnah and make its verses
and wise sayings beneficial to you and me! This is what I have said. If it is correct, it
is so because Allah has willed it to be; if it is wrong, it is my own fault and Satan’s. I
seek forgiveness from Almighty Allah. Verily, He is Oft-Forgiving!
Part Two
Praise be to Allah for His beneficence and thanks are due to Him for the success
He granted us and for His graciousness!
Now, then:
Allah () has so wisely and exclusively legislated for us the celebration of Eid5
with much happiness, joy and ease after a month of hard work and perseverance. Part
of the wisdom involved is reflected in the resolve of the fasting Muslim to engage
physical as well as psychological endurance in the face of the natural oscillations and
crises. It is also reflected in the shifting after a month of praising (of Allah), night
praying, recitation(of theQur'ān), crying and supplication into a celebration of
brotherly love, happiness, reunion (of family and relatives), ease and joy.
Allah () concluded His verses on fasting with pietyfor the many rewarding acts
of obedience and submissiveness (to Allah) involved therein. With respect to Eid, he
concluded with takbir6 for the ample praise, the ease and happiness it embodies in the
hope (by the fasting Muslim) of achieving acceptance (by Allah) of fasting during the
month of Ramadan: (He wants that you) must complete the same
number (of days), and that you must magnify Allâh [i.e. to
say Takbîr (Allâhu Akbar ; Allâh is the Most Great] for having guided
you so that you may be grateful to Him.[Al Baqarah: 185]
5Eid al Fitr: a festivity to celebrate the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting for Muslims.
6 Saying Allāhu Akbar (in Arabic لله أكبر ), or Allah is Greater.
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Verily, among the things that would help corroborate our perseverance and
obedience vis-à-vis Allah is moderation in the way we celebrate our Eid; that is we
should avoid exaggeration that would cause the wrath of Allah as well as stinginess in
matters where Allah granted us abundance. The ultimate purpose in this regard is to
avert being weak or doomed to perdition.
Rather, the type of celebration recommended here is that which is observed by the
true believers in Allah, not by the reckless and the heedless who think of Ramadan as
nothing but a nuisance in the face of their heedless pursuit of vanity and excessive
joy. Indeed, moderation is best in this regard.
Let us remember the advice of the Chosen one7 (), who said: “He who observes
fasting in the month of Ramadan, and also observes fasting for six days in the
month of Shawwal, it is as if he had observed fasting for the whole year."[Narrated
by Muslim]
Therefore –O servants of Allah– do not let the Eid celebration and joy distract your
attention from the sufferings of your brothers in faith who have witnessed no Eid,
happiness or joy. For them every month is the same with all the bombing and
destruction caused by wars. They hardly ever get any sleep and in every home of
theirs there is a disaster of death, injury or displacement. They have become victims
of oppression, poverty, hunger and desolation with no home or shelter.
Then, do not let your Eid celebration distract your attention from their woes and
sufferings or deprive them from your whole-hearted supplications and material
generosity by offering them relief and consolation; Allah is ever in the service of His
servants so long as they are in the service of their brothers and sisters (fellow
Muslims).
Ask Allah –may He have mercy on you– to send His Salat (Graces, Honours and
Mercy) and Peace on the best creature of Allah and the purest of mankind,
Muhammad ibn `AbdAllāh, who is given al-Hawdh8 and is vested with intercession;
for Allah sent His Salat (Graces, Honours and Mercy) and Peace on him and then
ordered His angels, that are praising His sanctity, to do likewise and called out to you,
O believers, to ask Him to send His Salat (Graces, Honours and Mercy) and Peace on
him. Allah the Almighty () says: Allâh sends His Salât (Graces, Honours,
7 The Chosen one ( المصطفى ) is one of the attributes of the Prophet ().
8This is the Arabic word for the water basin given by Allah () to the Prophet () in the Hereafter,
from which he will give the believers to drink and they will never feel thirsty thereafter.
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Blessings, Mercy) on the Prophet (Muhammad ), and also His
angels (ask Allâh to bless and forgive him). O you who believe! Send
your Salât[1] on (ask Allâh to bless) him (Muhammad), and (you
should) greet (salute) him with the Islâmic way of greeting
(salutation i.e. As-Salâmu ‘Alaikum).[AlAhzab: 56]
O Allah! Send Your Salat(Graces, Honours, and Mercy) and Peace on Your
Servant and Messenger Muhammad who has the brightest face and the most glorious
forehead. O Allah! Be pleased with his four Caliphs, Abu Bakr, Omar, Othman and
Ali, on all the Companions of Your Prophet Muhammad (), and the tabi’în, and
those who righteously followed them till the Day of Judgment! O Allah! Be also
pleased with us all, along with them, by Your Pardon and Generosity, O You, the
Most Merciful, Most Compassionate of all!
O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims! O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and
Muslims! O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims! O Allah! Fail polytheism and
polytheists (who associate partners with You)! O Allah! Grant victory to Your
Religion, Your Sacred Book, Your Prophet’s Sunnah, and Your true servants!
O Allah! Bring an end to the suffering of Muslims! Rescue those in distress, and
help those indebted pay back their debts! Cure those of us and those of the Muslims
who are ill, O You, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate!
O Allah! Set right the conditions of Muslims everywhere! O Allah! Set right the
conditions of Muslims everywhere! O Allah! Set right the conditions of Muslims
everywhere! O Allah! Set right their conditions in Arakan, Palestine, Syria and
Egypt!O You, the Lord of Majesty and Honour, the Lord of the Worlds!
O Allah! Grant us security in our homelands and set right our Imams and leaders! O
Allah! Entrust our government to those who fear You and seek Your satisfaction, O
Lord of the Worlds!
O Allah! Guide our leader to do and say whatever you please and accept. O You
the Ever-Living, the Eternal Guardian! O Allah! Make righteous his retinue, O You
the Lord of Majesty and Bounty!
O Allah! Make those occasions for good deeds an asset and a gain for us and those
times for blessingsand inspiration a path and a route of ascent for us to Your Mercy!
… Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the
Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the
Fire![Al-Baqarah: 201]
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Glorified be You, our Lord, the Lord of Honor and Power! You are free from
what they attribute unto You! May peace be upon the Messengers! The last of our
supplications is all praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds!
