Preparation for the Month of Ramadan
Ḥâ-Mĩm. By the clear Book! We have indeed sent it down on a blessed night [Laylatul Mubarak]. Indeed, We have always been warning. On that night every matter of wisdom is ordained by a command from Us; for indeed, We have always been sending Messengers as a mercy from your Lord, - Surely, He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. (Ad-Dukhan 44: 2-7)
Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) recited this duah
during the month of Rajab: “Allahumma bariklana
fi Rajab wa Shabaan, wa ballighna Ramadan.” [O Allah! Make the months of
Rajab and Shabaan blessed for us, and let us reach the month
of Ramadan.]
If we analyze this verse, there are about five names [and even more] for this night: Laylatul-Mubarak, Laylatul-Rahma, Laylatul Bara’a, Laylatus Sahk and the Laylatul Qadr; but many commentators on this Quranic verse (44: 4) specify that it only applies to the night of mid-Shabaan. But this is not the case. Although the night of mid-Shabaan is filled with blessings but the fact of specifying through the Quran, by specifying this verse of Surah Ad-Dukhan that it applies for the night of mid-Shabaan is not absolutely correct.
In the authentic Hadiths, our master Hazrat
Muhammad (pbuh) mentioned the importance of the month of Shabaan, as well as
the month of Rajab and Ramadan, and he also said that the night of the 15th
Shabaan is filled with blessings, but there is a lot of Muslims who say that
this night [of mid-Shabaan] is much more important and filled with blessings
and they take it as important as the Laylatul-Qadr during the month of
Ramadan.
There is no doubt that the night of
mid-Shabaan is filled with blessings, but it is not equivalent to that blessed
night [Laylatul-Mubarak] that the Layla-tul-Qadr represents.
Let us see what is meant by the five names
of this blessed night mentioned in Surah Ad-Dukhan and of which Allah and His
Messenger (pbuh) have spoken so much:
Laylatul-Mubarak means Blessed Night, filled with blessings. On this
night, those who do good deeds get many rewards and blessings. So therefore,
this name of night of blessings has been named Laylatul Mubarak because
it contains blessings; the prayers of the supplicants are answered and all the
blessed people [the pious and those whom Allah desires to forgive and bless]
obtain rewards while the sinners are forgiven. The gates of the very high
paradise as well as the upper part of Firdaus [that is, the highest part
of paradise in all of paradise and which is just below the throne of Allah] are
wide open.
Laylatul-Rahma (Night of Mercy) - this name is given to
it because during this night Allah’s mercy descends on earth in abundance.
Laylatul-Bara’a (Night of Salvation) - Because on this
night, sinners get respite from the punishments administered to them and are
released from hell.
Laylatus-Sahk - During that night, Allah (swt) writes
down salvation and certifies it for His servants.
Laylatul-Qadr (Night of Destiny) - During this night, Allah changes
the fate of those who deserve it on the basis of their faith. This night is
filled with blessings worth a thousand months of blessings that represent about
eighty-three years of a person’s life in general. This is the night on which
the Holy Quran first descended to our beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh)
through divine revelation [brought by the angel Jibra’eel (as)]. It is also the
night when the angels and the Holy Spirit descend to spread divine forgiveness
and also to inspire hearts to the right path.
I must clarify that the consecutive months
of Allah: Rajab, Shabaan and Ramadan are of great importance. These are months
of intense training for the believer to consolidate [strengthen] and refine the
faith.
Regarding the month of Shabaan, the word
Shabaan consists of five (5) letters.
Sheen for Sharaf- Respect
Ayn for Uulu - Elevation
Baa for Bir- Goodness
Alif for Ulfat – Friendship
Nun for Nur – Light
The Holy Prophet (pbuh) said: “People
forget this month which is between Rajab and Ramadan [i.e., Shabaan]; Yet this
is the month in which deeds ascend to the Lord of the Universe (Exalted be He),
and I like to be in a state of fasting when my deeds ascend to Him.” (An-Nasai
and Ahmad)
The Holy Prophet (pbuh) also said: “Rajab
is the month of Allah Most High, Shabaan is mine and Ramadan is that of my
Community [Ummah]”. [Suyuti]
While there are many people who do not
believe in this Hadith and call it weak, but after I analyzed this Hadith and
prayed, I found that it contains the truth. Of every month, these three
consecutive months [which comes one after another] and according to the Hadith
that I mentioned earlier and which is compiled by Imam Nasai and Imam Ahmad,
then we see that these months are really filled with blessings and that indeed
Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) took so much trouble and gave much importance to prepare
for the month of Ramadan by also observing the fast during the month of
Shabaan. And as well as the month of Rajab.
Likewise, the months of Shawwal and
Dhul-Qaddah are also months filled with blessings in preparation for the month
of Hajj [Dhul-Hijjah].
So, admitting that the Holy Prophet (pbuh)
said that Shabaan is his month, it shows us the greatness and the value of that
month in general. Truly, this is an opportunity for all believers to do their
best to be forgiven by Allah before welcoming the month of Ramadan.
You have received the month of Shabaan as a
month of training in order to fully prepare yourselves to welcome this great
month [Ramadan], a month in which one of its nights is Laylatul-Mubarak,
the night that is worth more than a thousand months of blessings and during
which Allah sends His angels and the Ruh’il Quddus; that is, the Laylatul-Qadr.
Hazrat Aisha Siddiqua (ra) reported that
Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) used to spend his nights in Salat (prayers) so
much that his feet were swollen or split. So she asked Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh): “O
Prophet of Allah, why do you undergo so much hardship despite the fact that
Allah has pardoned for you your earlier and later sins?” Hazrat Muhammad
(pbuh) responded: “Should I not prove myself to be a thankful servant?”
(Bukhari, Muslim)
No one in this world can enter paradise
without the grace of Allah, even our master Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh). But as you
know, Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) has already received the good news of Paradise.
Allah surrounded him with His grace to such an extent that all people until the
Day of Judgement must send the Darood upon him, that is, when we hear
his name “Muhammad” [when we talk
about him - not another Muhammad], we have to say, “Sallaahu alayhi wa sallam” (May blessings and
peace be upon him).
Bear in mind that despite the fact that the
Rahmatul-lil-Aalameen (blessing for all the universe), our beloved
prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) received the forgiveness of Allah and the good
news of paradise, but nevertheless he did not stop turning to Allah in prayers
and thanking and asking Him for forgiveness. He was a grateful servant to his
Creator. So, weak creatures that we are, filled with shortcomings and sins,
must we not turn to our Creator and strengthen our faith and make it become
more refined and solid?
So the Muslim should turn to Allah with a
sincere heart and while expressing his regret and shame for the sins he has
committed apologize to Allah (swt).
Here I present to you in brief how to do
the Tawbah [repentance and asking for forgiveness].
The Sayyidul Istighfaar is one of
the best duahs for asking Allah’s forgiveness.
Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim. Allahumma anta Rabbi,
Laa Ilaaha Illa anta khalaqtani wa ana abduka, wa ana ala ahdika wa wa’dika
ma-astata’tu. Audhu bika min sharri maa sana’tu. Abu’u laka bini’matika alayya
wa abu’u bi-dhanbi. Faghfir li fa-innahu laa yaghfiru dh-dhunuuba ilaa anta.
In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious,
The Most Merciful. O Allah, You are my Lord, none has the right to be worshipped except
You; You created me and I am Your servant and I abide to Your covenant and
promise as best I can, I take refuge in You from the evil of which I have
committed. I acknowledge Your favour upon me and I acknowledge my sin, so
forgive me, for verily none can forgive sin except You. (Bukhari)
There are other duahs of repentance
with Allah [for seeking forgiveness] that our beloved Prophet used to recite:
Allahumma-ghsil anni khatayaaya bil mai wa-th-thalji wal-baradi, wa naqqi qalbi minal khataaya kama yunaqqaa-th-thawbul abyadu mina-d-danasi wa ba’id bayni wa bayna khataayaaya kamaa ba’adta baynal-mashriqi wal maghribi.
[O Allah, wash away my sins with snow and hail water,
purify my heart from the sins as is purified the white garment from the dirt,
and keep away at a distance the sins from me as yawns the distance between the
East and the West.] (Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, An-Nasaï et
Ibn Majah).
Allahumma inni audhu bika minal kasali wal harami walgharmi wa min fitnatil qabri wa’adhaabin naari, wa min sharri fitnatil ghinaa wa audhu bika min fitnatil masiihi-d-Dajjal.
[O Allah, I seek refuge in You from sloth, from
senility, from debt, from the trouble of the grave, from the chastisement of
the grave, the from trouble of hell, from the chastisement of hell, from the
evil temptations of wealth, from the bad temptations of poverty and I seek Your
protection against Messiah Ad-Dajjal].
(Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, An-Nasaï et Ibn Majah).
Let us also ask Allah (swt) to grant us the
good things of this world and the hereafter.
Rabbana atina fid-Duniya
hassanataww wa fil aakhirati hassanataww wa kina azaaban-naar. “Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good
and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of
the Fire [of hell].”(Al-Baqara
2: 202)
The Holy Prophet (pbuh) recommends us to
repeat this invocation during the Night of Destiny (Laylatul-Qadr),
the Laylatul-Mubarak:
Allaahumma innaka ‘affuwwun
tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘annee’.
[O Allah, You are the One who forgives and You love to forgive, so forgive
me]. (Mishkat, Ibn Majah and Tirmidhi).
Rabbana adkhilnal Jannata ma’al
abraar Ya Azizuu Ya Ghaffar. [O Allah! Admit us to paradise with the good people, O Majestic! O
Forgiver!]
Make it a point to recite the attributes of
Allah, as well as the duahs that last year Allah (swt) instructed me to
put before you, which I listed and recited in my [Friday] sermons. I started
with the attributes of Allah and I also gave several sermons on the subject of duahs;
around 21 if I’m not mistaken. Take advantage of these duahs during the
month of Shabaan and also in the month which is extremely blessed and which
will come soon (i.e., the month of Ramadan). These attributes of Allah and duahs
can be found on our website [among the sermons for the year 2020].
During the month of Shabaan and Ramadan and
also throughout our entire lifetimes, we are recommended to recite the Darood
Shariff abundantly. We must fill our lives with the Ibaadat [acts of
worship] for our Creator and send the Darood on His beloved prophet
Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) for Allah accepts our duahs only after we have
read the opening of the Holy Quran [i.e., Surah Al-Fatiha] and praised Him and
sent Darood upon Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh). Only then, after reading the Darood,
any other duahs which are Halal (lawful) in the sight of Allah
and with His permission will be accepted and Allah will bless that person,
especially in this century when He has sent His Khalifa [one of His Khalifa]
(representative) among you who came with the Ruh’il Quddus, and where my
whole life, this same life that you all are living by witnessing to my advent,
is a blessed night, a Laylatul-Mubarak where Allah has sent [down] His
Messenger with revelations to turn this dark night, this darkness into a night
of blessings. And the duration of this night is the length of the life of this
Messenger of Allah who has come in obedience of his master Hazrat Muhammad
(pbuh). So whoever obeys Allah and the Khalifatullah of this century, verily
his whole life will be a Laylatul-Mubarak - his life will be filled with
blessings from Allah and Allah will always help him if he does not lose his/
her trust in Him and remain firmly attached to His Messenger in this blessed
century. Insha-Allah, Ameen.
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Before ending [my sermon], I would like to share with you a Zikrullah, a very important glorification with which to glorify Allah. This glorification is:
“Laa Ilaaha Illallaahu wahdahu laa sharikalahu, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu wa huwa ‘ala kulli shayin Qadir.”
[There is no other deity but Allah; The Unique One without a partner. His is the Kingdom, and His is the Praise, and He is powerful over everything].
Someone invites him to a public function, and he goes along with the person- despite not really knowing what kind of a function/programme it is. As he reaches the venue, he finds a grand stage with a large/spacious arena, and the look of the place indicates that people in large numbers are to assemble there for some programme. Then he hears a voice which recites the following Zikr/Duah, urging him to recite it every day for 100 times:
“Laa Ilaaha Illallaahu wahdahu
laa sharikalahu, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu wa huwa ‘ala kulli shayin Qadir.”
Masha-Allah, Allahu Akbar ! May Allah continue to bless my disciples and followers and make them shining stars in this Laylatul-Mubarak that we are living in this century. Insha-Allah, Ameen. Mubarak Ho to all who have recognized the signs of Allah and who remain attached with the Nur (Light) of Allah in this century, so that all darkness in our life, as well as in the world, may be removed. Let everything black become white. Insha-Allah, Ameen.