Preparing for Ramadaan?
| Khatib : |
Sadullah Khan |
| Khutbah No: |
211 |
| Khutbah Date: |
09/15/06 |
[b]مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً [/b][b]وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ[/b]As for anyone - be it man or woman - who does righteous deeds, and is a believer – such shall We most certainly cause to live a good life. and most certainly shall We grant unto such as these their reward in accordance with the best that they ever did. As we prepare our selves for the month of Ramadaan, what are some of the key factors we need to tend to, besides the physical abstention from food, drink and intimacy from dawn to dusk?
Tending to our Personal Infra-structureWe can only have a better world if we have improved individuals and we can only have better individuals if each of us commit to improve ourselves. If we take care of our infrastructure, we improve our lives and enhance our potential to have a positive impact on the world around us. If we want to live happy and fulfilling lives, it's very important to tend to our personal infrastructure: the body, the mind, the heart and the soul.
[b]إِنَّ السَّمْعَ وَالْبَصَرَ وَالْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُولـئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْؤُولاً[/b][i]"Surely, the hearing, sight and heart of each will be held accountable" [/i]~~Safeguard Physical well-beingOur healthy bodies are truly miraculous gifts from Allah. We have been given the responsibility to maximize our health by avoiding abusive behaviors and practicing healthy behaviors. Remember, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) warned us that no person would be excused on the Day of Judgment unless he answers ... how he used/abused his body.
~~Pay attention to the Mind Like our bodies, our minds need to be exercised, stretched and strengthened through continual learning, reflection and introspection.
~~Nurture the HeartWe need to understand and satisfy; as best we can, our emotional needs for love, friendship, belonging and fun. We must learn to cope with negative emotions like anger, jealousy, frustration, fear and loneliness.Realize that human beings are a combination of fundamental characteristics …[list][*]
Biological : We are physical bodies with a particular appearance and with specific aptitudes. We are male or female, having weaknesses and strengths.[/*][*]
Spiritual: We have a core inner dimension which is not physical yet responds to the physical world.[/*][*]
Mental: We think, analyze, imagine and are creative.[/*][*]
Ethical: We filter what we perceive through the prism of our beliefs.[/*][*]
Social: We are social by nature, interdependent by design[/*][*]
Emotional: We have feelings that are influenced by the way we interpret what we experience. We need to realize that, ultimately, emotions are our response to the reality as we perceive it. Our perception becomes our reality.[/*][/list] Remember the Prophet’s prayer
اللهم ارنى الأشياء كما هي [i]O Allah! Show me things as they really are.[/i] If we do not see “things” as they really are, then what are we seeing?If we do not realize / refuse to acknowledge what we really feel then what are we feeling? Our emotions influence our reality. The Prophetic saying
[b]لا يستقيم ايمان عبد حتى يستقيم قلبه [/b] [i]“none of your faith will be correct unless your heart is correct” [/i]may equally be a reference to personal sincerity as well as inner emotions that dictate our lives. We are therefore instructed to keep …o our emotions in check o our attitudes good o our thoughts pure
~~Acknowledge Spiritual needsFrom ethical and moral perspectives, we should contemplate the higher purpose and the deeper meaning of our lives - and try to live meaningfully. Spirituality has an internal dimension as well as an external dimension. - Internally, it refers to the purification of the self from the evils of bad intention, deceit, hypocrisy, selfishness, cowardice, arrogance, prejudice ...- Outwardly, it becomes manifested in one's attitude, behavior and character. In focusing on the neglected dimensions of ourselves, we could enhance our very humanity and be revived in a most positive way, Insha-Allah.[i]As for anyone - be it man or woman - who does righteous deeds, and is a believer – such shall We most certainly cause to live a good life. and most certainly shall We grant unto such as these their reward in accordance with the best that they ever did.
Q 16:97[/i]
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