https://www.khutbah.info/the-new-year/ All praise is due to Allah, the First and the Last, the Most High and the Most Near. There is none worthy of worship aside from Him. He is the Creator of everything and He is the Guardian of everything. Vision perceives Him not, but He perceives all vision; and He is the Subtle, the Aware. So be conscious of Allah and obey Him. And beware of His punishment and do not disobey Him. Allah Almighty said: Al Anfal (8) 25: And fear a trial which will not strike those who have wronged among you exclusively, and know that Allāh is severe in penalty. Indeed Allah Almighty has honored this community, and gave it blessings and goodness, and singled it out with many honors that were not given to the previous communities. That is why He chose for it the best of the messengers, Muhammad ﷺ and revealed to it the best and most honorable books, the Noble Quran. He made for it the best, most complete, and most generous Sharia’, the Islamic Sharia’.
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:
All praise is due to Allah, the First and the Last, the Most High and the Most Near. There is none worthy of worship aside from Him. He is the Creator of everything and He is the Guardian of everything. Vision perceives Him not, but He perceives all vision; and He is the Subtle, the Aware.
So be conscious of Allah and obey Him. And beware of His punishment and do not disobey Him. Allah Almighty said:
وَاتَّقُوا فِتْنَةً لَا تُصِيبَنَّ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْكُمْ خَاصَّةً وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللهَ شَدِيدُ العِقَابِ-الأنفال 25
Al Anfal (8) 25: And fear a trial which will not strike those who have wronged among you exclusively, and know that Allāh is severe in penalty.
Indeed Allah Almighty has honored this community, and gave it blessings and goodness, and singled it out with many honors that were not given to the previous communities. That is why He chose for it the best of the messengers, Muhammad ﷺ and revealed to it the best and most honorable books, the Noble Quran. He made for it the best, most complete, and most generous Sharia’, the Islamic Sharia’. Allah Almighty said:
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا-المائدة 3
Al Maedah (5) 3: This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islām as religion.
So the believer should feel these blessings, and be prepared as much as possible to establish the mandatory gratitude for them, and to seize the goodness that came in this Sharia’, and to hasten to it. For they are successive blessings and multiple virtues.
And among these, is what the Almighty established of seasons of goodness and virtuous times in which the reward is multiplied. And the extent of good that the believer attains within them is only known to Allah. And Allah, glory be to Him, has given this nation many seasons of goodness throughout the entire year. Rather in every month, every week, and every day, there are opportunities and virtuous times in which the opportunities for reward are multiplied.
And we have entered into a new year. It is the start of a sacred month and conclusion of a sacred month. Allah Almighty said:
إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِندَ اللَّهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ذَلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ- التوبة 36
At Tawbah (9) 36: Indeed, the number of months with Allāh is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allāh [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion [i.e., way], so do not wrong yourselves during them.
Abu Bakrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
السَّنَةُ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا، مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ، ثَلاَثَةٌ مُتَوَالِيَاتٌ ذُو الْقَعْدَةِ وَذُو الْحِجَّةِ وَالْمُحَرَّمُ، وَرَجَبُ مُضَرَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ جُمَادَى وَشَعْبَانَ
The year consists of twelve months of which four are inviolable; three of them consecutive, Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram and Rajab, the month of Mudar (tribe), which comes between Jumada and Sha’ban. [Bukhari 3197, Muslim 1679a]
And this month was named Muharram, the Inviolable month, because it is a month in which the prohibition of sins and wronging are emphasized. And the greatness of this month was known throughout history. To the point that some of the previous communities preserved the sanctity of this month, and magnified it. Allah’s words:
فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا فِيهِنَّ أَنْفُسَكُمْ-التوبة 36
At Tawbah 36: So do not wrong yourselves during them.
Refers to these sacred months, because sins are more weighty in them than other months. Believers distance themselves from wronging their selves through sins and transgressions at all times and instances. For there is no greater way of wronging one’s self than burdening it with sins and misdeeds. And this is emphasized in the these sacred months. Ibn Abbas said regarding the verse:
فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا فِيهِنَّ أَنْفُسَكُمْ-التوبة 36
At Tawbah 36: So do not wrong yourselves during them.
That is do not wrong yourselves in all the months and four months were specified and made sacred and their sanctity was magnified, and sins are greater within them, and the righteous deeds and rewards are greater within them.
And Al Hassan Al Basry, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
Allah opened the year with a sacred month and concluded it with a sacred month. So there is no month in the year after Ramadan that is greater than Muharram. And it was called the deaf month of Allah due to the magnitude of its sanctity.
The Arabs in the era of ignorance had a way chronicling their great days and events, and this continued during the life of the Prophet ﷺ and the caliphate of Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, and the beginnings of the caliphate of Omar Al-Farooq, may Allah be pleased with him. Then the extent of the caliphate expanded during his reign, may Allah be pleased with him, and there were many reasons for searching for a calendar that Muslims could agree upon and use. So Omar gathered the people on the 16th or 17th year after hijrah and consulted them on where the calendar should start from. So some of them said from the start of the mission of the Prophet ﷺ and others said from the time of the death of the Prophet ﷺ. Then he, may Allah be pleased with him, started the calendar, according to his opinion, from the time of Hijrah (emigration), because, through it, Allah distinguished between truth and falsehood, and because through it was the establishment of an independent entity for the Muslims.
Then Omar consulted the companions, may Allah be pleased with them, on which month the year should start. So it was said, from Rabi’ Al Awal, because it was the month in which the Prophet emigrated to Madinah. And it was said, Ramadan. Then Omar, Othman and Ali, may Allah be pleased with them, agreed on starting with the month of Muharram. And the whole community received that with acceptance because it is a sacred month, and it comes after Dhul Hijjah, which is also a sacred month, and it comes after the month in which the Prophet ﷺ took the allegiance of the Ansar (helpers) for the Hijrah. So it was the month with the most priority. We ask Allah Almighty to favor the Muslims in this new year with glory, honor and steadfastness and to reconcile their hearts and unite them.
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:
After a few days, the Day of Ashurah will come upon us and it is the tenth day of the month of Muharram. It is a great day with much virtue. For the Prophet ﷺused to fast it and Quraish used to fast it. And when the Prophet ﷺ approached Madinah, he found the Jewish community fasting that day. So the next year he ﷺfasted it and commanded fasting that day. Then the month of Ramadan was mandated that year. So the obligation of fasting Ashurah was abrogated and fasting it remained recommended according to the most likely correct opinion.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ وَالسَّنَةَ الَّتِي بَعْدَهُ وَصِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ
Fasting on the Day of ‘Arafah, I anticipate from Allah, expiates for the sins of the year before and the year after. And fasting the Day of ‘Ashurah, I anticipate from Allah, expiates for the sins of the year before it. [Muslim 1162a]
And the Prophet ﷺ was informed at the end of his life that the Jewish Community took ‘Ashurah as a holiday. So he ﷺ intended to fast the ninth and tenth of the next year, but death prevented him.
Abdallah bin Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
حِينَ صَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ وَأَمَرَ بِصِيَامِهِ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ يَوْمٌ تُعَظِّمُهُ الْيَهُودُ وَالنَّصَارَى . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ فَإِذَا كَانَ الْعَامُ الْمُقْبِلُ – إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ – صُمْنَا الْيَوْمَ التَّاسِعَ ” . قَالَ فَلَمْ يَأْتِ الْعَامُ الْمُقْبِلُ حَتَّى تُوُفِّيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ fasted on the day of ‘Ashurah and commanded that it should he observed as a fast, they (the Companions) said: Oh Messenger of Allah, it is a day which the Jewish and Christian communities magnify. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: When the next year comes, Allah willing, we will observe fast on the ninth. He said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺdied before the start of the next year. [Muslim 1134a]
So it is better to fast on the day before ‘Ashurah. So oh believers fast the tenth day of this month and the ninth day of this month.
May Allah Almighty accept from us and you and all Muslims. 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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