O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was
prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard (against evil).
(Al-Baqara 2: 184)
Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, we have entered the blessed month of Ramadan, and
today I continue the second part of my Friday sermon that I started last
Friday.
Hadith:
Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) has said: “Fasting is a protection and a powerful
fortress.” (Ahmad, Baihaqi).
As I have mentioned last week, the month of Ramadan is a month wherein a Mumin (believer) must make a lot of sacrifice. The sacrifice he has to make is that he has to get up early in the morning to do the Salaat-ul-Tahajjud and take the Sehri. In my last week’s sermon I quoted this Hadith which shows the importance of Sehri. I also said that Roza [fasting] keeps us healthy. Hazrat Abu Hurairah (ra) reported that Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) said: “Keep the fast and you will stay healthy.” (Tibrani).
There is also enormous benefit in Iftar. He who
loves Allah will be in a hurry to have his Iftar so that he can meet Him
- his Creator (in Salat). Salat is a source of blessings for us Muslims
and for all of humanity. Salat prevents us from doing degrading things.
In times of fasting, it is advisable to do many
voluntary prayers [Nafl Salat] and do Zikr to gain closeness to
Allah. There is no better way to come close to Allah than through Salat
and Zikr. Zikr-i-Ilaahi enables one to spiritually approach Allah
(swt) and discover His beauty.
Abu Saeed al-Khudri (ra) narrates the following from
Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh): “On the first night of Ramadhan the doors of the
heavens are opened and remain open until the last night Ramadan. Any believer /
faithful who prays [perform Salat] shall be rewarded 1,500 virtues for each
prostration and a grand house made out of Yaqut (Red Rubies) in paradise with 7,000
doors and each door [entrance] leading to a palace of gold decorated with Yaqut
(Red Rubies). On the first day of Ramadan fast all the sins between the last
Ramadan and this (present one) are forgiven. Every day between Fajr [dawn] and
Maghrib [sunset] 70,000 angels pray for his forgiveness and for every
prostration of every prayer in the day or night he shall get a tree big enough
that a rider (on horseback) will take 500 years to cross its shadow.” (Baihaqi)
(Let us ponder over the great extent of space of that
tree and its shade for the one who fast for Allah).
Allah likes His servants to make efforts in His path
and therefore He has established the fast which allows a Mumin
(believer) to gain access to his Lord with a purified heart. The material world
tends to corrupt people’s hearts. So, the benefit of Ramadan is that during
this month, a believer must keep fasting to purify his heart from worldly
attachments.
Allah says in Quran in Verse 186 of Chapter 2 Al-Baqara: “Shahru Ramazaa-nallaziii ‘unzila fiihil-Qur’aanu hudal-linnaasi wa bayyinaatim-minal hudaa wal furqaan.”
'It was
in the month of Ramadan that the Quran was revealed as guidance for mankind,
clear messages giving guidance and distinguishing between right and wrong.'
So, therefore, it would be very good for our souls and
conscience if we make it our duty to read the Quran in this blessed month that
we are living in at the moment and we sit down and reflect on each verse that
Allah (swt) has revealed. Allah loves those who are sincere in their faith and
do everything necessary to understand the messages in His noble Quran.
Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (ra) reported Allah’s
Messenger (pbuh) as saying, “Fasting and the Qur’an intercede for a man.
Fasting says, ‘O my Lord, I have kept him away from his food and his passions
by day, so accept my intercession for him.’ The Qur’an says, ‘I have kept him
away from sleep by night, so accept my intercession for him.’ Then their
intercession is accepted.” (Ahmad, Tibrani, Hakim).
Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) has said: “O Abu Dharr! For
you to come out in the morning and learn one Verse from the Book of Allah is
better for you than praying one hundred Raka’at [Nafl], and for you to come out
and learn a matter of knowledge, whether it is acted upon or not, is better for
you than praying one thousand Raka’at [Nafl].” (Ibn Majah).
Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) has said: “If anyone recites
the Quran and acts according to its contents, on the day of resurrection his
parents will be given to wear a crown whose light is better than the light of
the sun in the dwellings of this world if it were among you. So what do you
think of him who acts according to this?” (Ahmad, Abu Dawud).
Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) has said: “No one has given
his children anything better than Adab (knowledge of religion).” (Tirmidhi,
Baihaqi).
These hadiths show us the
value of learning and reading the Quran and the Hadiths that our beloved
Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) said and practiced. The fact that Ramadan has
come, thus we must take advantage of it and attract the pleasure and blessings
of Allah (swt) upon us. Who would not want to gain such favors which have been
mentioned in the Quran and Hadiths on the benefits of learning the Quran and
putting it into practice? And as another Hadith says, to teach it to others? What
importance [value] must the parents give the Quran and teach it to their
children? We have seen what rewards these parents shall receive, those who
dedicate their children in this path which brings Light in the heart and in the
whole world.
Allah has also spoken in several places in the Quran
about giving importance to Zakat. Zakat must be given on the
capitals which we have.
There is also a Hadith from the Messenger of Allah
(pbuh) narrated by Hazrat Abu Huraira (ra) saying: “There is Zakat
applicable to everything, and the Zakat of the body is fasting.” (Ibn
Majah).
Zakat -
like I have told you all the time - is more important than the Chanda;
we must not overlook or neglect it. But that also doesn’t mean that you don’t
have to contribute to the Chanda [Donations] fund. Above all, Allah is
pleased that as a Muslim we fulfill our duties and one of those duties is to
distribute Zakat. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) had the habit, despite poverty, of
doing a lot of charity during the month of Ramadan.
Allah say in Quran Chapter 2, Verse 111:
“Wa ‘aqiimus-Salaata wa aatuz-Zakaah...” And perform prayer and give Zakat [compulsory tax]…
In Chapter 9 At-Tauba, Verse 60, Allah says:
“Alms
[Donations] are meant only for the poor, the needy, those who administer them,
those whose hearts need winning over [to Islam], to free slaves and help those
in debt, for God’s cause, and for travellers in need. This is ordained by God;
God is all knowing and wise.”
Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) has said: Blessed is the
servant who spends out of the wealth he has earned without sin. (Ibn Adi,
Bazzar)
Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) fine dire: “The best of
charity is when a Muslim man gains knowledge [of Deen], then he teaches it to
his Muslim brother.” (Ibn Majah)
There is a Hadith which is mentioned in (Bukhari)
where the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) has said that on the Day of
Judgement he will be among the poor. He advised his Ummah not to attach
themselves with the luxuries of this world. Thus, the month of Ramadan allows a
Mumin [believer] to detach himself from worldly things, which are very
temporary.
Hadith:
Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) has said: “Nothing turns back the Decree except
supplication, and nothing increases the life-span except righteousness.” (Tirmidhi)
So, let us pray that Allah
helps each one of us to strive towards Him (Allah) and reap His love. Let us
show our children the importance of the teachings of Islam so that Allah be
pleased with us as Dai-Illallah and as parents. There is
no age limit to learn. May all of us, old and young, join hands together to
teach the religion of Islam, teaching it to others, may them be other Muslims,
or people from the different religions. Our work as Dai-Illallah is to pass on the message
of Islam. It is Allah in return who gives Iman (faith). As for us, our
duty is only to do our best in our duty and spread the message, be it to our
children and humanity [as a whole].
May Allah enlighten our
souls and enrich our minds with His knowledge in this noble month of Ramadan,
and may each of us enjoy or maximise [the benefits of] these exceptional
moments. Last year’s Ramadan was certainly different from this year and we
don’t know what is in store for us for the next Ramadan. May Allah have mercy
on everyone among us and grant us His blessings in abundance. Ameen,
Summa Ameen, Ya Rabbul Aalameen.
---Friday Sermon of 08 April 2022 ~05 Ramadan 1443 AH delivered by Imam-Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (aba) of Mauritius.