https://www.khutbah.info/ramadan-a-driver-for-change/ In the blessed month of Ramadan, timeless secrets are manifested, and successive sequences of radiant wisdom follow one another, each illuminating the other, such that one never tires of discussing them. Their novelty never fades, their repetition never grows old, nor does recounting become wearisome. Rather, they become more delightful with repetition, just as honey becomes sweeter each time that it is tasted. For this reason, Muslims eagerly await this annual arrival which spans the horizons, from towns to deserts, widespread as the night and day. So, we will shed some light on our habitual approach towards the month of Ramadan and on correcting some misconceptions and on reviving aspects covered by the dust of forgetfulness. This is necessary because many people take a customary approach towards this month, driven by habit rather than true devotion and worship.
إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ ,نَحْمَدُهُ ,وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ , وَنَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا ,مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ , وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ , وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Verily, all praise is for Allah. We praise Him, we seek His assistance and we ask for His forgiveness. And we seek refuge in Him from the evils of our selves. Whoever Allah guides, none can misguide. Whoever He misguides, none can guide. And I bear witness that there is no deity other than Allah and I bear witness that Mohammad is His slave and messenger.
يَا أَيُّهَا الّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ – آل عمران:102
Al Imran 102 : O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam.
Oh people:
In the blessed month of Ramadan, timeless secrets are manifested, and successive sequences of radiant wisdom follow one another, each illuminating the other, such that one never tires of discussing them. Their novelty never fades, their repetition never grows old, nor does recounting become wearisome. Rather, they become more delightful with repetition, just as honey becomes sweeter each time that it is tasted. For this reason, Muslims eagerly await this annual arrival which spans the horizons, from towns to deserts, widespread as the night and day.
So, we will shed some light on our habitual approach towards the month of Ramadan and on correcting some misconceptions and on reviving aspects covered by the dust of forgetfulness. This is necessary because many people take a customary approach towards this month, driven by habit rather than true devotion and worship.
In this blessed month, souls are drawn toward religion and devotion. This month reminds people of Allah’s rights over them. The fragrance of religious devotion permeates gatherings. where people are urged to embrace worship and righteous deeds, thereby raising their readiness to change what is within themselves, so that Allah Almighty changes their condition accordingly, as He Almighty says:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّى يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ
Ar-Ra’d (13) 11: Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.
In this blessed month, many people feel their need for faith just as much as their need for water and air. Indeed, any community that neglects its religious affairs and does not implement Allah’s ordainments neglects its greatest potential and obstructs the means of its success both in this world and the hereafter.
Every society lacking religious devotion will inevitably be in turmoil, and its affairs will be in disorder. Allah will turn its glory into humiliation, its security into fear, and its order into chaos.
In the blessed month of Ramadan, Muslims’ standards of strength rise to such an extent that it becomes difficult for them to be shaken if they prepare themselves well and realize a great secret of this month. This is exemplified by the saying of the Prophet ﷺ :
إِذَا دَخَلَ رَمَضَانُ فُتِّحَتْ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ وَغُلِّقَتْ أَبْوَابُ جَهَنَّمَ وَسُلْسِلَتِ الشَّيَاطِينُ
When the month of Ramadan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hellfire are closed, and the devils are chained. [ Al-Bukhari 3277 and Muslim 1079]
Ibn Al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy upon him) commented on this Hadith, explaining that this occurs because fasting restricts the pathways through which Satan influences a person, by restricting the pathways of food and drink.
The greatest fear, therefore should be for Muslims who have not taken Satan into account in their reality and have become indifferent to his cunning and tricks, as well as of his troops from among jinn and humans. Allah, the Exalted, says:
وَإِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ لَيُوحُونَ إِلَىٰ أَوْلِيَائِهِمْ لِيُجَادِلُوكُمْ ۖ وَإِنْ أَطَعْتُمُوهُمْ إِنَّكُمْ لَمُشْرِكُونَ
Al-An’am (6) 121: And indeed do the devils inspire their allies [among men] to dispute with you. And if you were to obey them, indeed, you would be associators [of others with Allah].
Undoubtedly, Muslim may acknowledge their susceptibility to Satan’s deception and cunning, recognizing that they are not infallible. Yet some of them falsely believe that they are protected against Satan’s effects and corruption, having built around themselves a false sense of security through their routine and superficial adherence to Islam, as if the limited practices that they maintain constitute the entirety of Islam. This mistaken attitude undoubtedly prevents them from rectifying their mistakes and benefiting from the good that arises from true guidance.
Indeed, the constant feeling of vulnerability is a positive and fruitful feeling that drives consistent and regular action. In contrast, the feeling of fruitless perfection is merely an emotional fancy. Such a sense of perfection does not absolve any Muslim from their responsibility before Allah concerning any faults in their condition, behavior, or life, whether in their religious or worldly affairs. Allah the Almighty says:
لَيْسَ بِأَمَانِيِّكُمْ وَلا أَمَانِيِّ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ مَنْ يَعْمَلْ سُوءاً يُجْزَ بِه
An-Nisa (4) 123: It [i.e., Paradise] is not [obtained] by your wishful thinking nor by that of the People of the Scripture. Whoever does a wrong will be recompensed for it.
Many people speak from various platforms about the month of Ramadan, stating that it is a month of heroism and glory. This is a fact beyond doubt and debate. Yet, what must be understood and consistently stressed is that heroism and glory cannot be achieved merely by wishing thinking, while hearts remain heedless and distracted.
Indeed, heroism and glory have a price that is rarely attained. For what is with Allah is priceless and of immeasurable value, only attained by those who strive sincerely and earnestly. The Prophet ﷺ said:
أَلَا إنَّ سِلْعَةَ اللهِ غاليةٌ أَلَا إنَّ سِلْعَةَ اللهِ الجنةُ
Indeed the commodity of Allah is precious, indeed the commodity of Allah is Paradise. [Tirmithi 2457, Grade: Sahih (Albani)]
Moreover, glory and victory has conditions, among which is refraining from sins and distancing oneself from falling into them or even nearing them. There is no clearer evidence of their effect upon failure and defeat at the hands of the adversary than the words of Ibn Masoud, may Allah be pleased with him, in what Ahmad narrated in his Musnad about the defeat of Uhud.
فلو حَلَفتُ يومئذٍ رَجَوتُ أنْ أَبَرَّ إنَّه ليس أحَدٌ منَّا يُريدُ الدُّنْيا حتى أنزَلَ اللهُ
[Ahmad 4414, Grade: Hasan (Arnaout)] I would have sworn on that day, hoping to fulfill my oath that none among us desired this worldly life, until Allah revealed:
مِنْكُمْ مَنْ يُرِيدُ الدُّنْيَا وَمِنْكُمْ مَنْ يُرِيدُ الْآخِرَةَ
Al ‘Imran (3) 152:Among you are some who desire this world, and among you are some who desire the Hereafter.
The path of Muslims to victory is to follow the actions of the Prophet ﷺ when he spent the night in Badr, standing in prayer and urging the Ever-Living, the Self-Sustaining. This confirms the great importance of prayer and seeking refuge in Allah in relieving calamities and removing misfortunes. It is stated in the Sunnah:
كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا حَزَبَهُ أَمْرٌ صَلَّى
Whenever the Prophet ﷺ was distressed by a matter, he would pray. [Sunan Abi Dawud 1319, Grade: Hasan (Albani)]
In the blessed month of Ramadan, the serene atmosphere evokes the virtues of mercy and compassion among Muslims. This is the key to being accepted by people and replaces the ignorance of the ignorant and blind selfishness with a life of tranquility. It softens temperaments and soothes souls. It is the remedy when illness spreads and the source of victory when strength fails.
If a Muslim realized that their foremost duty towards other Muslims is to prioritize the collective interest rather than selfishness, they would recognize that true greatness lies in overcoming their own ego. Through such a noble understanding, a Muslim recognizes the true value of wealth, appreciating the good that it achieves and the benefits that it secures.
Combining fasting and charity is one of the reasons for entering Paradise. In this regard, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ غُرَفًا يُرَى ظَاهِرُهَا مِنْ بَاطِنِهَا وَبَاطِنُهَا مِنْ ظَاهِرِهَا أَعَدَّهَا اللَّهُ لِمَنْ أَلَانَ الْكَلَامَ وَأَطْعَمَ الطَّعَامَ وَتَابَعَ الصِّيَامَ وَصَلَّى بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّاسُ نيام
Indeed, in Paradise there are chambers whose outside can be seen from their inside, and whose inside can be seen from their outside. Allah has prepared them for those who feed others, speak gently, fast regularly, and pray while people are asleep. [Mishkat al-Masabih 1232, 1233, Grade: Sahih (Albani)]
Money comes and goes, increases and decreases, and it is only a means of spending and giving, and attaining the aim of the afterlife. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ also said:
خَيْرُ الصَّدَقَةِ مَا كَانَ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ
The best of charity is that which is given when you are self-sufficient, and begin with those for whom you are responsible. [Al-Bukhari 1426]
May Allah have mercy on people who earn and purify themselves, who are moderate and maintain balance, who spend reasonably, and remember their Lord and do not forget their share of this worldly life. Blessed is the righteous wealth in the hands of a righteous person. Conversely, what a loss for those overwhelmed by their wealth, losing their faith and dignity, who are excessive and transgress even though they have enough!! They are those about whom Allah said:
وَإِذَا رَأَوْا تِجَارَةً أَوْ لَهْواً انْفَضُّوا إِلَيْهَا وَتَرَكُوكَ قَائِمًا
Al-Jumu’ah (62) 11: But [on one occasion] when they saw a transaction or a diversion, [O Muḥammad], they rushed to it and left you standing.
Indeed, blessings do not last forever. Today is followed by tomorrow. Life is followed by death, and death is followed by reckoning. As Allah warns us in His Book:
وَلْيَخْشَ الَّذِينَ لَوْ تَرَكُوا مِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّةً ضِعَافًا خَافُوا عَلَيْهِمْ فَلْيَتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَلْيَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا
An-Nisa (4) 9: And let those [executors and guardians] fear [injustice] as if they [themselves] had left weak offspring behind and feared for them. So let them fear Allāh and speak words of appropriate justice.
أَقُولُ مَا تَسْمَعُونَ وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْبٍ فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
I say what you have heard and I seek forgiveness from Allah for me and you from every sin. So seek forgives from Him, Verily He is Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
Second Khutbah
الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ, وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ , وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَاْ إِلَهَ إِلَّاْ اَللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَاْشَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدَاً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ
All praise is to Allah, and peace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah, and I bear witness that there is no deity other than Allah and I bear witness that Mohammad is His slave and messenger.
Oh Muslims:
Indeed, the status of the month of Ramadan compared to the rest of the months is like the status of Yusuf ﷺ among his eleven brothers. The vision of Prophet Ya’qub (peace be upon him) was not restored by any of the garments of Yusuf’s brothers. Yet his sight was restored upon receiving Yusuf’s shirt. Similarly, Ramadan is the opportunity for the sinner who spent the entire year in negligence, extravagance, and heedlessness. It is also the opportunity for societies to reflect, take account, and sincerely seek change from their spiritual emptiness, weakness, and disarray, so that their insight, spirituality, purity, brotherhood, unity, and adherence to the ordainments of their Lord may return.
We ask Allah Almighty to accept out fasting, prayers and all our good deeds and grant us eternal success. Indeed, Allah is All Hearing, Answering.
هَذَا وَصَلُّوا وَسَلِّمُوا عَلَى نَبِيِّكُم كَمَا أَمَرَكُمْ بِذلِكَ رَبُّكُمْ , فَقَالَ
I conclude with this and send prayers of blessings and peace upon your Prophet as your Lord commanded:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ۚ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا
Al Ahzaab (33) 56: Indeed, Allah confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have believed, ask [ Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [ Allah to grant him] peace.
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنا فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ وَعَافِنا فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ وَتَوَلَّنا فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ وَبَارِكْ لنا فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ وَقِنا شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ إِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلاَ يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ وَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ
O Allah, guide us with those whom You have guided, grant us well-being among those You have granted well-being, be an ally to us along with those whom You are an ally to, and bless what You have bestowed upon us, and save us from the evil of what You have decreed. For verily You decree and none can decree over You. He whom You support can never be humiliated. Glory is to You, our Lord, You are Blessed and Exalted.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ كُلِّهِ عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ مَا عَلِمْنا مِنْهُ وَمَا لَمْ نَعْلَمْ وَنَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الشَّرِّ كُلِّهِ عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ مَا عَلِمْنا مِنْهُ وَمَا لَمْ نَعْلَمْ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ خَيْرِ مَا سَأَلَكَ عَبْدُكَ وَنَبِيُّكَ وَنَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا عَاذَ بِهِ عَبْدُكَ وَنَبِيُّكَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَا قَرَّبَ إِلَيْهَا مِنْ قَوْلٍ أَوْ عَمَلٍ وَنَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ وَمَا قَرَّبَ إِلَيْهَا مِنْ قَوْلٍ أَوْ عَمَلٍ وَنَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ كُلَّ قَضَاءٍ قَضَيْتَهُ لَنا خَيْرًا
O Allah, We ask You for all that is good, in this world and in the Hereafter, what we know and what we do not know. O Allah, we seek refuge with You from all evil, in this world and in the Hereafter, what we know and what we do not know. O Allah, we ask You for the good that Your servant and Prophet has asked You for, and we seek refuge with You from the evil from which Your servant and Prophet sought refuge. O Allah, we ask You for Paradise and for that which brings one closer to it, in word and deed, and we seek refuge in You from Hell and from that which brings one closer to it, in word and deed. And we ask You to make every decree that You decree concerning us good
عِبَادَ اللّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
Servants of Allah. Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.
اُذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ الْعَظِيمَ يَذْكُرْكُمْ واشْكُرُوهُ يَزِدْكُمْ واسْتَغْفِرُوهُ يَغْفِرْ لكُمْ واتّقُوهُ يَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَمْرِكُمْ مَخْرَجًا وَأَقِمِ الصّلَاة
Remember Allah, the Great – He will remember you. Thank Him for His favors – He will increase you therein. And seek forgiveness from Him – He will forgive you. And be conscious of Him – He will provide you a way out of difficult matters. And, establish the prayer.
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