Ramadaan ~ The Blessed Month
| Khatib : |
Sadullah Khan |
| Khutbah No: |
212 |
| Khutbah Date: |
09/29/06 |
[b]من صامَ رمضانَ ايمانًا واحتسابًا ُغفِرَ له ما تقدَّمَ من ذنبه[/b] [i]Whoever observes the fast of Ramadaan, with conviction, propriety and desirous of Allah’s recompense; will have his/her past sins forgiven. [/i] [b][Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)] [/b]Greatest MonthWe are blessed to witness the greatest month (greater than a thousand months [Q 97:3]) on the annual calendar …[list][*]the month of Ramadaan (mentioned by name in the Qur’an in relation to the Qur’an [Q2:185])[/*][*]month of the Qur’an (revelation commenced on Night of Power [Q97:1-2])[/*][*]month of fasting [Q2:183 - 185] Fasting in Islam involves abstinence from three primal physical needs of human beings; food, drink,{sustenance for living} and intimate relationships {survival & perpetuation of species}from dawn to dusk during the entire month of Ramadan.[/*][*]month of increased generosity [/*][/list] Ramadan is indeed the month of a heightened level of God-consciousness, month of spiritual elevation, month of moral rejuvenation. [i]“There comes to you the blessed month of Ramadaan in which Allah has made fasting obligatory (on those who are able), it contains a night grander than a thousand months. Whosoever denies himself its benefits denies himself tremendous goodness.” [/i][b][Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)][/b]
Which Fast?Though many who fast, but not all fast the same kind of fast nor do all fast the same level of fasting.. ~~Kinds of Fast [list][*]those who see Ramadan as an inconvenient time of restrictions and preventions; a time of prohibitions from fun and indulgence. They fast with great difficulties while continuing to be the way they are. They see the fast as nothing more than cultural practice and as an obstacle in front of their usual life.[/*][*]those who see Ramadan as a month of food and drink. Most of their time is consumed going and coming from the grocery store purchasing food for themselves, families and guests. Ramadan doesn't increase them except in being pre-occupied with entertaining. Though fasting from food is not a divine weight-loss plan. (If you need to lose weight and you do; Good!), and there is no harm in entertaining, provided that does not become the focus of the month.[/*][*]those who see Ramadaan as an annual Muslim event and since everyone at home fasts, they too fast; but there is no increase in … their prayers, neither in their God-consciousness nor improvement in their character.[/*][*]Those who are “Ramadaan Muslims”; who pray, dress appropriately, give charity and read Qur’an … ONLY in Ramadaan. (Then they take a break from Islam till next Ramadaan.)[/*][*]those who can not wait for the arrival of Ramadan, and when it comes they go into top gear with their worship, their character development and their generosity. Ramadaan motivates, invigorates and rejuvenates them.[/*][/list] Let each one of us ask himself/herself … which group do I belong to?[b]Level of FastingImam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali made reference to 3 Levels of Fasting:[/b][list][*]
OrdinaryFasting/sawm-ul-‘umoom = means abstaining from food, drink and sexual satisfaction. [/*][*]
Special Fasting/sawm-ul-khusoos = means keeping one's ears, eyes, tongue, hands and feet -- and all other organs -- free from sin. [/*][*]
Extra-special Fasting/sawm-ul-khusoos al-khusoos = means fasting of the heart by abstaining completely from unworthy concerns and unnecessary material matters; focusing more on one’s relationship with God and one’s duties to the creation of God … having the consciousness of a true Believer. [/*][/list]
Fasting ~ Spiritual & Moral DisciplineSo we note that Islam has emphasized the institution of fasting as highly spiritual and moral discipline; both in motive and form ... [list][*]In motive it demands purity of intention and honesty of purpose[/*][*]In form it demands abstention from engaging in any form of unlawful and improper conduct. One is required to control one's urges, conquer one's desires and thus to discipline one's self. With discipline comes true control and real inner power; the power to free one's self from the shackles of the base animal tendencies within our selves[/*][/list] Prophet Muhammad said that [i]most people will not enter Paradise merely due to prayer, fasting or charity, but rather due to …[/i]
[b]برحمة الله وسخاوة الأنفس و سلامة الصدور[/b][i]mercy of Allah, generosity of spirit and purity of heart.[/i]When asked about the characteristics of a Believer, Imam Zainul ‘Abideen replied;
[b]علامات المؤمن خمس ؛ الورع فى الخلوة ، و الصد قة فى القلة ،[/b][b] و الصبر عند المصيبة ، والحلم عند الغضب ، و الصدق عند الخوف[/b][i] “Righteousness in privacy, generosity even when needy, patience during misfortunes, sense of control when angry and truthfulness even when fearful.”[/i]Those who fast are also referred to in the Qur'an (9:112 & 66:5) as
saa'ih (spiritual wayfarers).
[b]التَّائِبُونَ الْعَابِدُونَ الْحَامِدُونَ السَّائِحُونَ الرَّاكِعُونَ السَّاجِدونَ الآمِرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ[/b][b]وَالنَّاهُونَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَالْحَافِظُونَ لِحُدُودِ اللّهِ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ[/b] [i]Those who repent, who commit themselves to the commands of the Divine, who are gratefully praise the Creator, those fasting one who are spiritual wayfarers, who humbly bow and sincerely prostrate before Allah, who command what is universally accepted as good and who forbid that which is wrong all the while maintaining the boundaries set by Allah; Glad tiding to such Faithful ones[/i][b][Q 9:112][/b]Fasting is indeed an exercise in pursuit of Divine blessing, Divine approval and an attempt at manifesting the best of ethical values and moral practices; a month of high intensity spiritual development and of character building; a month in pursuance of
taqwa [Q 2:183] …that true criterion of human excellence, that standard of greatness in the estimation of Allah …
[b]ان اكرمكم عند الله أتقىكم[/b][i]The most honorable among human beings in the evaluation of Allah are those with the highest degree of taqwa. [/i]
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