| WELCOMING RAMADAN: THE ADVICE OF MUHAMMAD (S) ON RAMADAN
After sunset on the last day of Sha’ban we will hear the good news that the Ramadan moon has been sighted. On hearing this happy news we will gather that night to offer the special prayer of Ramadan called ‘Salat Tarawih’ and then the next day we will start fasting the first day of Ramadan. Ramadan is the beginning of the call to Islam (conscious submission to God). This is a chance for the believers to remember the mission of the Messenger of God Muhammad (S) which was inaugurated through this great month. Khutbah of Muhammad (S) on Welcoming Ramadan In this article I will introduce the Khutbah of the Messenger Muhammad (S), which he delivered on the last day of Sha’ban to the Sahabah (companions). It is a short but concise Khutbah, informative and educational. It provides instructional models to the Muslims to be followed and to be practiced in their daily lives and especially during the month of Ramadan. Salaman Al Farisi (r.a.) narrated that the Messenger of God, Muhammad (S) delivered a Khutbah on the last day of Sha’ban. In this short Khutbah he (S) said the following: “A great month, a blessed month, a month containing a night which is better than one thousand months has approached you, o people. The fasting during this month is an obligatory duty (Faridah), and the extra prayers during its nights are voluntary. Anyone who comes closer to God through a good deed during this month is as if he performed an obligatory duty (Faridah) during times other that Ramadan, and he who fulfills an obligatory duty in it will be like one who fulfills seventy obligatory duties in another month. It is the month of Sabr (patience), and the reward of Sabr is Jannah (Paradise). It is the month of sharing with others (visiting sick, poor and needy ones), and the month in which the believer’s nourishment, his provision are increased. One who gives a Saim (a fasting person) something to break his fast (Iftar), it will provide forgiveness of his sins and save him from the fire, and will receive reward equal to the fasting person without reducing fasting person’s own reward in any respect.” Some of the Sahabah remarked: “O the Messenger of God! Not all of us may find food to share with one so that he could break his fast.” Then the Messenger (S) said: “God will reward you even if you help the fasting Muslim to break his fast with a date, a sip of water, or a drink of milk. It is the month: its beginning is Mercy (Rahmah), its middle part is Forgiveness (Magfirah), and its last part is freedom from hellfire. Anyone who helps a slave to be freed, God will forgive him and free him from Hell. Increase in yourselves four characteristics: two by which you will please your Lord, and two others by which you cannot live without. The first two qualities to please God are to bear witness that there is no one worthy of worship except Him, and to ask forgiveness from Him. However, the other two things that you cannot live without are: to ask God for Jannah and to ask Him to protect you from Jahannam (fire). Anyone who gives water to a Muslim at Iftar, God will give him water during the Day of Judgment from fountain of the Rasul Muhammad (S) which will make him not feel thirsty till he enters Jannah.’ { Ibn Khuzaymah) Messages of the Khutbah The address of the Messenger of God, Muhammad (S) is sufficient to understand the blessings and greatness of the month of Ramadan. Rasulullah (S) informed us that this great month will bring the shade over those who fast. This means that Ramadan is just like a tree which gives protection from the summer heat to the Muslims who are tired of the style of life during 11 month and now, in Ramadan, they turn to its shade that provides peace for them. It saves them from the speed of the material world as well as from the Hereafter. In this Rasul’s address we learn that in the month of Ramadan God showers His blessings on believers and those who do a single virtuous deed in this month, they get the reward of a Fard act and whoever offers a Fard in this month will get the reward of one who fulfills seventy obligatory duties (Faraid) in another month. According to the Messenger of God (S) this month will give us the energy to restrain ourselves which is the quality of a true Muslim, and will create mutual love and sympathy among us. Through the blessings of this month our provisions will also be increased. In this address of our Rasul Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam we read that the first part of the month of Ramadan is Ar Rahmah – the Mercy which Allah has bestowed on the believers. In the second part Allah sends Al Magfirah – the Forgiveness to the believers. In the last part of Ramadan we are saved from Jahannam. Our Rasul Muhammad (S) informs us: “When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heavens are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the Shaytans are chained.” (Bukhari) Conclusion Siyam (Islamic fasting) as explained by the Messenger of God (S) is a means of self-discipline and recognizing the fact that Shaytan is always ready to act. He whispers to us and waits for the chance. But the Siyam is like a lock against Shaytan, closing up his access points to the inside. That is, dear brothers and sisters, when we look into the Muslim community during this month of Ramadan, evil appears to be very much reduced. Muslims work to improve themselves during this month. Their spiritual awareness is so intense that the Shaytan finds it harder to get the better of them. |
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