FROM THE MIMBAR OF HOLY HARAM IN

MAKKAH AND MADINA

(Friday, December 8, 2000)


STRIVE FOR GREATER REWARDS DURING THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN, MUSLIMS TOLD.


The Imams and Khateebs of the Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madina advised Muslims to fear Allah and do good deeds and refrain from the forbidden sins.


IN MAKKAH


Sheikh Saud Al-Sheraim, lmam and Khateeb at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, called upon Muslims in his Friday Sermon (December 8, 2000) to fear Allah and accumulate provisions of good deeds for the Hereafter.


He also urged Muslims to gain the utmost from the holy month of Ramadan, the month of forgiveness, mercy and blessings.


Sheikh Al-Sheraim explained that the holy Ramadan reminds Muslims of their obligation and rights towards Allah and that they should worship Him more than ever and indulge in benevolent deeds during this holy month.


He pointed out that any Ummah that is not a steadfast to the Divine Faith, its affairs will mix up and muddle. And thus, no wonder Allah turns its strength to weakness, security to fear and serenity to chaos.


During the month of Ramadan the measures and standards of strength, he said, rise and go higher for every individual Muslim so that a Muslim will never ever shaken if he prepared himself spiritually for this holy month besides realizing one of the greatest secrets of this month as is manifested in the Prophet's (peace be upon him) Hadith that the gates of the Heaven will be opened and the doors of the Hell will be closed and the Satan will be chained.


He pointed out that a persistent feeling of shortcoming is much better as it keeps one striving consistently than a feeling of perfection which in its essence is nothing but complacency. However, the latter feeling neither elevates the Muslims status nor spurs him in his responsibility and obligations towards Almighty Allah either in his worldly behavior or in preparation for the Hereafter.


Pointing out the impact of the disobedience and sins on the Muslim societies, he asserted out that to achieve success, it is necessary to abstain from sins and purify our souls from desires and lust as sins and whims lead to nowhere but to defeat and loss against the enemy. Therefore, Muslims should resort to Allah to remove and rescue them from distress and afflictions.


He elaborated that the holy month of Ramadan dedicates two concepts which are mercy and compassion among Muslims pointing out that both qualities serve as a key for captivating hearts and added, it was in the holy Ramadan the great message liberated mankind from worshiping deities other than the Almighty".


He stressed that a Muslim should realize that the most important moral obligation Muslims owe is to refrain from selfishness so that they may work for the well being of the entire society.


He also advised Muslims to combine fasting with alms because the latter is one of the essential acts for Heaven.


IN MADINA


In Madina, the Imam and Khateeb at the Prophet's Mosque Sheikh Ali Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Hudhefi, in his Friday sermon advised Muslim to fear Allah, do good deeds and refrain from evil acts.


Elaborating on the worship which Allah has made obligatory to His creatures, he said this has two essential ultimate goals which are purifying of the hearts and souls so that a Muslim aptly in closeness to Heaven and partly to benefit his fellow beings.


The Almighty God, he said, cares for His creatures and supports them to earn their living and do whatever matters befit the Shariah on earth and the Hereafter pointing out that whoever benefits his folk, Allah will help and benefit him, too.


He said the refrainment from trespasses keeps away the evils and added, "the holy month of Ramadan is a month of blessings and good deeds thus Almighty Allah blessed the days and nights of Ramadan and made them a time for fasting and worshiping.


Sheikh AI-Hudhefi urged Muslims to thank Allah by heart and tongue, doing good deeds and frequently pray during the holy month of Ramadan.


He also advised Muslims to always remember Allah and thank Him for His innumerable and numerous blessings and favors.

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The Holy Qur'an says:


"Indeed, We sent it (i.e., the Qur'an) down during the Night of Power. And what can make you know what is the Night of Power? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit (i.e., Gabriel) descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn." (Surah Al Qadr, Ayat 1:5) 




Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) sayings:

(Hadith)


Abu Hurairah (Allah be pleased with him)narrated that the prophet (peace be upon him) said: "If any one of you is invited to a meal when he is fasting, he should say: 'I am fasting'". (Sahih Muslim).


Aishah (Allah be pleased with her) said:"The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to kiss his wives while fasting and fondle them while fasting, but he had the greatest control over his desires among you". (Sahih Al Bukhari). 


Jabir bin Abdullah (Allah be pleased with him) narrated that during the course of a journey, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saw a man around whom people crowded and provided him with shade. He asked: "What is wrong with him?" They said: "He is fasting." Whereupon the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "It is not righteousness that you fast while traveling". (Sahih Al Bukhari).


Hamzah bin 'Amr Al-Aslami (Allah be pleased with him) said to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him):"I find strength in me for fasting on a journey; is there harm in doing so? The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "It is a permission from Allah. He who takes advantage of it, it is good for him, and he who prefers to observe fast, there is no harm for him.(Sahih Muslim).


DU'A (Invocations)


Rabbiqhfir li wa tub alayya innaka Antat Tawwabul Ghafoor.


My Lord, forgive me and cause Your favor to return to me, You are the Ever-Relenting, the All-Forgiving.


There is no God but You, glory is to You. Surely I was among the wrongdoers.


O Allah, You are my strength and You are my victory. For Your sake I go forth and for Your sake I stand firm and for Your sake I fight.


Allah is sufficient for us and the best of those on whom to depend.


O Allah! We ask You to have full Faith (Iman), true conviction, acceptable deeds, true repentance before death, rest and ease on death and forgiveness and mercy after death.


O Allah! You control all the hearts so make our belief in Islam steadfast, give us strength to overcome our weakness and be our Guardian, release our captives, heal our fractures, and let our bodies be prohibited to the Fire.


O Allah! Help us remember, praise and worship You well.


O Allah! Let us love the Iman (Faith) and make it nice to our hearts and let us hate disbelief, blasphemy and disobedience and make us among those guided by You.


O Allah! Guide Muslims women and protect them from displaying their charms and beauties and guard them against the misleadings of the disbelievers and corrupted persons.


O Allah! Let those who want to harm Muslims have the same taste of what they have been plotting returned to their own necks and keep them busy with their own troubles and let them destroy themselves with their own hands.


O Allah! Purge the usurper Jews out of Al-Aqsa Mosque, expel them out submissively humiliated.


O Allah! Strike terror to the enemies' hearts, shake earth under their feet and render them and their wealth as booty for Islam and Muslims.


O Allah! You have said, "Call me and I will answer" and here we have called You so hear and answer our call.


Wa salli Allahumma 'ala nabiyyina Muhammad, was 'ala alihi wa sahbihi wa sallim.


May the blessing and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, his Companions and followers.

Earn abundant reward from Allah Subhanawatala: 

Spread the Message of Allah 


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