Alhamdulillah! The month of Ramadan is upon us. We pray to Allah ﷻ to make this Ramadan the best Ramadan of our life. May Allah SWT enable us to make use of this Ramadan by worshipping Him alone in this month and thereafter. May Allah ﷻ help us to attain His mercy and there by enter the Jannatul Firduas – ameen Ya Rabb – Having said that..

There were so many classes-duroos about Ramadan in our local masjid or online; Perhaps you all attended already or attended before or during the month of Ramadan; I do encourage you to refresh everyone with that information to benefit us in shaa Allah.

As far as this khutbah, I would like to give you some pointers - that will help us to focus (in my humble opinion) and enjoy this Ramadan better – In sha Allah!  

Preparation – Mind/soul and body – Is that making sure you have dates/meat/vegetables in stock?

Rather should we make a repentance (Taubah – Asking for forgiveness) and enter the month with a clean heart – as much as you can.

As many of us are in the category that we only fast in the month of Ramadan?

Understanding the virtues or learning what is fasting; what are its requirements (wajibaat), conditions and what nullifies it, etc. [Refer: Prophet Fasting Described]

Ibn Rajab Al-Hambali RA– the month of Ramadan contain two strivings – (Jihadain)

Abstain from the food during the day; and abstain from sleep while performing worship/ibadah – Taraweeh/Qiyamu lyl- reciting Quran.

If you want to stay focused on the Taraweeh/night prayer, you must prepare and plan upfront – what the masjid/imam is reciting tonight – see am I able to follow? Go through the meaning/tafsir/explanations.

My suggestion is to focus on the quality of the Worship, not the quantity.  

Are we different? Allah says: in Surah Al-Hashr: لَا يَسْتَوِي أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ وَأَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ ۚ أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ هُمُ الْفَائِزُونَ   Not equal are the companions of the Fire and the companions of Paradise. The companions of Paradise - they are the attainers [of success].

The people of Jannah are different from people of An-Naar – the people of Jannah are the successful

Do you see ‘a difference’ in you in this month, as compared to other months? Was there not much difference between you and your non-Muslim friend or co-worker?   

If we don’t see, we are different in this month– I would remind you with this hadith.

Abu Huraairah RA reported: Allah’s messenger ﷺ “When any one of you observing Saum(fasting) on a day, he should neither indulge on obscene/foul language nor should he raise the voice; and if anyone reviles him or tries to quarrel with him, he should say ‘I am observing fast.”

Allah doesn’t need you to starve and deprive yourselves from food and water.

Fasting is not merely from food and drink. Rather, stay away from lies, falsehood, vain talk, backbiting and swearing. If a person does not avoid falsehood/evil words, Allah does not need their fasting.

مَنْ لَمْ يَدَعْ قَوْلَ الزُّورِ وَالْعَمَلَ بِهِ فَلَيْسَ لِلَّهِ حَاجَةٌ فِي أَنْ يَدَعَ طَعَامَهُ وَشَرَابَهُ

Whoever does not leave evil words and deeds while fasting, Allah does not need him to leave food and drink.

On a side note: the real fasting -

I don’t know if you felt this; when we observe fast- we become very light and even during the summertime we feel chill; while this is an external feeling internally our heart will be ready to take the naseeha. When listening to Quran/speeches – the impact would be greater than when we are NOT observing fasting. So, I believe that could be the reason Allah asked Musa AS to observe fast before he met Allah and received the Torah. Allah knows the best.

What can be done next few days?

Remember the purpose of this fasting? To Attain the TAQWA – to develop the God conscious.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

Remember that La'allakum Tattaqoon NOT Li Tataqoon – Allah didn’t say for you will get TAQWA (the God conscious) –Rather Allah used the word Perhaps you may attain TAQWA.

Because TAQWA will lead us to the Jannah. One of the core/ fundamentals is TAQWA.

It came from the root meaning of protection - waqi- taqi - taqwa - protecting oneself.

Some reflection from the early days of Ramadan

We asked Allah ﷻ to make us witness to this Ramadan and now here we are. So, we should make use of it;

Improve your relationship with Allah’s book-

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَانِ

The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion (separation b/w the right and wrong – haqq and baatil).

So have a plan and schedule for you to read/recite/understand and ponder upon. This is the month of Quran for us to internalize the Quran – then we will experience it as if Allah ﷻ talking to us and revealing it to you and me.

Continuing what can be done in the next few days.

Don’t forget to spend in Charity in this month. And remember those less fortunate – while we break the fast there were so many in the refugee camps, and needy people, who were all waiting to overcome their hunger and thirst. At least do not waste food.

Increase in your Duaa.  Aduaa.. Mukul ibaadha – it’s the core of the worship.

Allah ﷻ says: وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ

And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.

Finally: The hadith of Jibril say Ameen and ar-Rasool ﷺ said the same

The Prophet said, “Verily, Gabriel came to me, and he said: Whoever reaches the month of Ramadan, and he is not forgiven, then he will enter Hellfire and Allah will cast him far away, so say amin. I said amin. إِنَّ جِبْرِيلَ أَتَانِي فَقَالَ مَنْ أَدْرَكَ شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ وَلَمْ يُغْفَرْ لَهُ فَدَخَلَ النَّارَ فَأَبْعَدَهُ اللَّهُ قُلْ آمِينَ فَقُلْتُ آمِينَ

We do not want to be those unfortunate when Ramadan came to them but their sins not forgiven. May Allah ﷻ grant is the correct understanding. Ameen Ya Rabb.