Text Box: بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Friday Sermon HAZRAT AMIR’UL MUMINEEN MUHYI-UD-DIN Munir Ahmad Azim 25 July 2013 ~ (25 Shaban 1434 Hijri) (Summary of Friday Sermon) After having greeted all his followers (and all Muslims) round the world – mentioning the nearby islands, India, Kerala, Trinidad and Tobago etc. – with the Salutations of Peace, Hazrat Muhyi-ud-Din (atba) read the Tashahhud, Taouz and Surah Al Fatiha and then said: The Holy month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar is considered the chief month of the calendar because it is during this month full of blessings Allah Most High revealed the Qur'an, His last commandment (law), considered as the chief of all the sacred books, to His seal and leader of all the prophets, Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) through the chief of all the angels, Hazrat Jibreel (upon him be peace). This is one reason among many values ​​(of this month) why Allah the Most High ordained fasting forus during this holy month. Of course, fasting is obligatory on all those who have the physical means, that is to say, so far as one’s state of health permits. “You have one month approaching, a month that is of incomparable value, a month of blessing, a month containing a night better than a thousand months.” These words are taken from a speech made by the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) on the last day of Shaban. This Hadith is reported by Hazrat Salman Farsi (May Allah be pleased with him). In another Hadith, Hazrat Ubadah ibn Saamit (May Allah be pleased with him) relates that one day while Ramadan was close the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Ramadan has come to you. (It is) a month of blessing, in which Allah covers you with blessing, for He sends down Mercy, decreases sins and answers prayers. In it, Allah looks at your competition (in good deeds), and boasts about you to His angels. So show Allah goodness from yourselves” We see that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) took care to say these words in order to guard against inactivity during this month. It is worth remembering that he (peace be upon him) addressed the Sahaba while they were devout practitioners. By this we must understand that this teaching is conveyed to the Ummah as a whole until the Last Day, so that the Muslims engage themselves more in the worship of Allah during Ramadan because it really is one very special month. Ramadan is a month of such importance that in the beginning of the year even Paradise is the subject of many ornaments and decorations. Hazrat Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that he heard the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) says: “From the beginning to the end of the year, Paradise is furnished and perfumed in honour of Ramadan. Then, on the first night of Ramadan, under the throne of Allah, a gentle wind, called Masira, blows. The leaves and branches of the trees, the grass and the flowers of Paradise rustle with this wind, producing the most wonderful music. All the Huris with large black eyes dress up and stand up on high podiums of Paradise and say, “Where are those who wish to have us? Where are those who will ask Allah for us?” The inhabitants of Paradise ask Ridwan, the Keeper of Paradise, “What night is this that all Heaven is celebrating?” Ridwan answers, “Tonight is the first night of Ramadan, when all the gates of Paradise are open to those who fast among the people of Muhammad (peace be upon him).” Furthermore the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) says: “In every night of Ramadan, Allah recommends an angel to launch this appeal: Is there anyone who repents, so that I forgive him? Is there someone who wants to lend money to a rich man, a rich man who shall repay him?” All this leads us to understand that Ramadan is a month of great blessing. Insha-Allah, I will mention its different aspects. Ramadan is foremost the month of fasting. The principle of fasting is to refrain from eating, drinking and having sexual relations with one’s wife during the day, during the month of Ramadan. Allah the Almighty says in the Quran: “The month of Ramadhan (is that) in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights (the new moon of) the month, let him fast it.” (2: 186) With the exception of children, the sick and travellers it is obligatory to every Muslim, man and woman to observe the fasts of Ramadan. It is said in a Hadith: “Whoever neglects one fasting of Ramadan voluntarily and without any major cause and without being ill shall never be able to replace it, even if he fasts all his life.” Try as he may to fast throughout his life in order to replace one voluntarily missed fast during Ramadan, but a person will never recover the blessing which was contained in that single fast which he should have observed during the holy month. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) wanted to show that a fast observed during Ramadan is irreplaceable in respect of the blessing which is contained in this month. In another Hadith, it is said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and hope of reward shall be forgiven his previous sins.” Allah the Almighty loves the faster to such an extent that the smell exhaled from the mouth of the fasting person is better and more valuable to Him than the scent of musk. On the other hand, the faster will receive his reward in a quite special way. In fact in a Hadith-e-Qudsi, Allah the Most High says: “Fasting is Mine and it is I who shall personally give his reward.” Is there a greater honour for the believer than to receive his reward from the Creator personally? Allah the Almighty never rejects the duah of the faster. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said in this regard: “The duah of three categories of persons are not rejected, that of a righteous king, that of a fasting person until he breaks his fast (Iftar) and the oppressed one.” It is especially recommended to recite many duah when the time of Iftar approaches, because prior to the time of Iftar there is a moment conducive to the acceptance of duah by Allah the Most High. But unfortunately we (Muslims) do not make the most of this auspicious time, because we are, at this moment, too busy to prepare food. Sometimes we even forget to recite duah for the Iftar. It is also unfortunate to see that we are engaged in unrestricted consumption during this month and this often at the expense of the rest of the Community who is hurt to not be able to meet at most their immediate needs. Such behaviour is contrary to the spirit of fasting and the teachings of Islam that continue to urge believers to curb their selfishness: The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) was humble and modest, and denied the luxury of eating more kinds of dates, bread and meat in the same meal. Unfortunately we cannot say the same for Muslims today whereby Ramadan has become a month where we eat more, and especially the best dishes. We must bear in mind that Ramadan is not a month, a time to fill one’s stomach with rich and tasty food. This is the month when we try, by abstaining from food and sex (during the day), to blur our animal instincts, our passions and to find a balance, an equilibrium. So before I finish today’s sermon, my brothers, sisters and children, when you see the moon of Ramadan, recite this duah: “Allahumma ahillahu alayna bil-amni wal imaan was-salamati wal islaam wattawfiqi lima tuhibbu watardwa Rabbuna wa Rabbukallah.” O Allah, make us appear with the security, faith, peace, submission and the direction that you like and Te satisfied; (O crescent moon) and yours our Lord is Allah. (i) Intention for Suhur/Sehri: Allahumma aswummu radal laka faghfirli ma kaddamtu wama akhartu. O Allah! I observe fasting for You during the day to come (tomorrow), forgive my past and future sins. If you make the intention on the eve (during the night), recite: Nawaytu’an aswuma rhadan lillahi min fardhi Ramadaana haazan. If you make the intention in the morning, recite: Nawaytu’an aswuma haazal yawma lillaahi min fardi Ramadaana. (ii) Intention for Iftar: Allahumma laka sumtu wabika aamantu wa’alayka tawakaltu wa’ala rizkika aftartu fatakabbal minni. O Allah! I observed the fast for You, I believe in You and I break the fast with the food You have provided me; accept this fast from me. Let us pray that Allah gives us the Tawfiq to enjoy this month full of blessings. It is a month of training for the eleven months to come. Insha-Allah, may Allah help us to make the most of this opportunity to purify us, be it physically, morally and spiritually. Insha-Allah, Ameen.