As-Siddiq Mosque
[Eid Takbir.]
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, laa ilaaha illa-Llah.
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa lillahi 'l-hamd!
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, laa ilaaha illa-Llah.
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa lillahi 'l-hamd!
Alhamdulillah nasta`eenahu wa nastahdeeh. Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar. Laa ilaaha illa-Llah Muhammadun Rasoolullah. Alhamdulillahi ‘l-ladhee hadaana li ’l-Islami wa maa kunna li-nahtadeea law laa an hadaana ’Llah.
Rewards of Ramadan and Gatherings of Familiar Souls
O Muslims, Believers! Alhamdulillah alladhee adrakana Ramadan wa `aqabahaa bi Shawwal. Alhamdulillah that we were able to reach and fast Ramadan and followed it with Shawwal. Today is a celebration that Allah (swt) wants all Muslims who fasted to celebrate and be rewarded immensely for fasting in the month of Ramadan, as He said:
« كل عمل ابن آدم يضاعف الحسنة عشرة أمثالها إلى سبعمائة ضعف. قال الله عز وجل: إلا الصوم، فإنه لي وأنا أجزي به.
All the deeds of the Children of Adam are multiplied so that there are ten rewards for each good deed increasing up to 700 except fasting, for it is done (purely) for Me and I reward it. (Muslim)
“Fasting is for Me and I will reward it. I will not tell anyone what reward I am giving to My servants.” That is because this is the holy month of Ramadan. Allah does not inform any of His angels of these rewards for fasting until Judgment Day, when He first informs His Prophet (s) and then it is shown to everyone.
We are gathered here together and we are from different races and nations. We did not know each other before but we knew each other in the World of Souls on the Day of Promises, as the Prophet (s) said:
وَالأَرْوَاحُ جُنُودٌ مُجَنَّدَةٌ فَمَا تَعَارَفَ مِنْهَا ائْتَلَفَ وَمَا تَنَاكَرَ مِنْهَا اخْتَلَفَ
And the souls are troops collected together and those who had a mutual familiarity amongst themselves in the store of prenatal existence would have affinity amongst them (in this world also) and those who opposed one of them would be at variance with one another. (Narrated Abu Hurayrah, Muslim)
Souls are like battalions of soldiers knew each other on the Day of Promises, where we came together. Those who knew each other became one group, just as this is a group and there are many groups around the world, Muslims and mu’mins that came together for something common. That is Islam.
إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِندَ اللّهِ الإِسْلاَمُُ
The religion in Allah’s view is Islam (submission to His Will). (Surat Aali-`Imraan, 3:19)
So religion is not called ‘Judaism’ after a nation or ‘Christianity’ after a prophet, but ‘Islam is the religion’, meaning “submission”. We are called ‘Muslims’ as only after we submit can we be called ‘Muhammadiyyoon’; we are called after the way of peace, and Islam is to surrender to Allah's Will that He wanted for us on the Day of Souls, when He asked:
أَلَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ قَالُواْ بَلَى
"Am I not your Lord (Who cherishes and sustains you)?" They said, "Yes, we do testify [you are our Lord]!" (Surat al-`Araaf, 7:172)
That is where we are called Muslimoon and Mu’minoon, where we reach the level of Muhammadiyyoon. We are not Christians or Jews, but we are Muslims, submitted to Allah, laa shareeka lahu, no partner for Him, no one to help Him because were He to need help then He would not be The Creator. He does not need anything! He created everything. We are dependent on Him and He is independent. If anyone thinks other than that his imaan is incomplete.
Allah rewarded us so much in Ramadan in many ways, but we will summarize one or two. The Prophet (s) said:
ان ابواب السماء وابواب الارض لتفتح لاول ليلة من رمضان فلا تغاق لاخر ليلة منه
Truly the doors of Heavens and the doors of the Earth are opened from the first night of Ramadan until its last night. (Nuzhat al-Majalis wa-Muntakhab an-Nafaa’is)
It means Allah will put the Heavens and Earth under your power on the first night of Ramadan, as He said:
أَلَمْ تَرَوْا أَنَّ اللَّهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ
Are you not aware that Allah has made subservient to you all that is in the Heavens and all that is on Earth? (Surah Luqman, 31:20)
Allah (swt) is telling us, “I put under your order the Heavens and Earth and these doors will not close, so you will enter these doors to Paradise and new doors are opened each Ramadan. That is all for your Prophet (s).”
This relates to the verse:
إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِندَ اللّهِ الإِسْلاَمُُ
The religion in Allah’s view is Islam (submission to His Will). (Surat Aali-`Imraan, 3:19)
Unfortunately, we can blame our parents who did not show us to fast Ramadan; that is parents’ responsibility. Every one of us has to repent: those ones who fasted must repent that their fast is not good enough and those who did not fast must repent for dropping the requirements of Ramadan. Those who fasted must thank Allah that the Doors of Heaven are open for you! Enjoy these doors and enjoy that you are going to enter Paradise. If you are fasting to show off, then that is not considered real fasting as anything done to show off for others to praise you is not a perfect `amal, but it is accepted by Allah. Make sure you do things for Allah. If you give, don't let the left hand know what the right hand is giving.
The First to Be Judged on Qiyamah
إن أول الناس يقضى يوم القيامة عليه رجل اسُتشهد، فأتي به، فعرفه نعمته، فعرفها، قال: فما عملت فيها؟ قال: قاتلت فيك حتى اسُتشهدت، قال: كذبت، ولكنك قاتلت لأن يقال: جريء، فقد قيل، ثم أمر به، فسحب على وجهه حتى ألقي في النار. ورجل تعلم العلم وعلمه، وقرأ القرآن، فأتي به، فعرفه نعمه فعرفها. قال فما عملت فيها؟ قال تعلمت العلم وعلمته وقرأت فيك القرآن. قال كذبت، ولكنك تعلمت ليقال: عالم. وقرأت القرآن ليقال: هو قارئ، فقد قيل: ثم أُمر به، فسُحب على وجهه حتى ألقي في النار، ورجل وسع الله عليه، وأعطاه من أصناف المال، فأتي به فعرفه نعمه، فعرفها. قال: فما عملت فيها ؟ قال: ما تركت من سبيل تحب أن ينفق فيها إلا أنفقت فيها لك، قال: كذبت، ولكنك فعلت ليقال: جواد، فقد قيل، ثم أُمر به فسُحب على وجهه ثم ألقي في النار
The first to be judged on the Day of Resurrection will be a man who died as a martyr. He will be brought forward, Allah will remind him of the favors He had bestowed upon him and the man will acknowledge them. Then He will ask him, "What did you do to express gratitude for it?” The man will reply, "I fought for Your Cause until I was martyred." Allah will say, "You have lied. You fought so that people might call you courageous, and they have done so." A command will then be issued about him and he will be dragged on his face and thrown into Hell. Then will be brought forward a man who acquired knowledge, who imparted it (to others) and recited the Qur'an. He will be brought and Allah will make him recount His blessings; he will recount them (and admit having enjoyed them in his lifetime). Then Allah will ask, “What did you do (to requite these blessings)?” He will say, “I acquired knowledge and disseminated it and recited the Qur'an seeking Your pleasure.” Allah will say, "You have told a lie. You acquired knowledge so that you might be called a 'scholar' and you recited the Qur'an so that it might said, ‘He is a reciter’, and such has been said.” Then orders will be passed against him, he shall be dragged with his face downward and cast into the Fire. Then will be brought a man whom Allah had made abundantly rich and had granted every kind of wealth. He will be brought, Allah will make him recount His blessings, he will recount them (and admit having enjoyed them in his lifetime). Allah will (then) ask, "What have you done (to requite these blessings)?” He will say, "I spent money in every cause in which you wished that it should be spent.” Allah will say, "You are lying. You did (so) that it might be said about (you), ‘He is generous’, and so it was said.” Then Allah will pass orders, he will be dragged with his face downward and thrown into Hell” (Narrated Abu Hurayrah, Muslim)
On the Day of Judgment, Allah will call a martyr and ask him, “What have you done for Me in dunya?” He is a shaheed, he died fighting enemies of the Muslim country, and he says, “I fought for You.” Allah says, “You are a liar! You fought to show others you are courageous and you gave your life to make people speak highly of you.” Today they are doing that, they post a video to show this person is a martyr, and Allah says, “No, you did it to show off that you are courageous. Take him to Hellfire!”
The next one called is a rich person who gets lot of Allah’s favors, who makes a lot of money from business or offices, and Allah asks, “What have you done for Me?” He says, “I built so many schools and mosques.” Allah says, “No, you lie. You did it so that people will say about you al-muhsin al-kabeer, ‘This is the biggest Believer who put this mosque,’ when you put it for your name, not for Me.” They built schools and so many things and you see plaques with their names on the door of the mosque and on banners. Don't put banners! Today we put too many banners, watering the desires of our egos, which is from Shaytan.
Allah (swt) told Prophet (s):
قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَى إِلَيَّ
Say (to them, O Muhammad), "I am but a man like yourselves, (but) the Revelation (wahiyy) has come to me.” (Surat al-Kahf, 18:110)
“I am like the human being.” Say, “We are human beings,” and Allah will be happy with you. So Allah orders
From the third category to be judged, Allah will call the `alim, like the one today who makes ‘intensive’ courses on Islam, and asks him, “What have you done for Me?” He replies, “I am teaching courses. I did it for You.” Then why are you charging money for an 8-hour or weekend course, $800 or $1000? Are you selling Hadith or the Holy Qur'an? It is not allowed to sell the Holy Qur'an as it is Allah's Ancient Words, not created, it is with Him. How are you selling His words? In order for people to say, “This is an `alim.” You have long hair and that is okay, as it is also a Sunnah of the Prophet (s), but in the Holy Qur'an the order came for men to shave their heads, in the ayah muhaliqeen wa muqasireen. In any case, we have to see if they are doing it (wearing long hair) to fulfill a Sunnah or to follow fashion; you see them like Spanish or European people with long hair, and they say it is Sunnah but they are doing it to be fashionable. The Qur’an cannot be traded or sold, but it can be given as gift.
O Muslims! Be careful from scholars and determine if they are teaching for Allah or for the income they get from offering courses! If someone has no money and wants to attend the course but is rejected, then that is for the teachers’ pockets, not for real `ilm. They must make available for those who pay and those who cannot.
And regarding them Allah says, “Angels, take that `alim to Hellfire!” Knowledge cannot be sold! Anyone who knows something about Allah and His Prophet must not sell it, they must give it out. There are many very sincere scholars who don't take anything, they teach for free. I know some very famous ones they don't take a penny, they work for a living, like Sayyidina Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (r) worked and paid for his food and then he gave his knowledge for free. May Allah guide us.
How important is Ramadan? You cannot compare it with other months. The most important month is Ramadan in it are four Jumu`ahs that are more honored than any other Fridays in the year, they have the highest level of rewards of all Fridays.
What did Allah (swt) do? He designated the first ten days as mercy, when Allah sends His Rahmat on His servants, and second ten days are forgiveness, maghfirah, and He blessed them with love of that mercy, which is Sayyidina Muhammad (s)! And in the second ten days you are already dressed with mercy and then He forgives you, and then the last ten days are `itqun min an-naar, salvation from Hellfire. If you want salvation from Hellfire, fast Ramadan!
It is narrated in a Hadith:
أنه يؤتى يوم القيامة بعبد والملائكة يضربونه، فيتعلق بالنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، فيقول: { ما ذنبه }؟ فيقولون: أدرك شهر رمضان فعصى الله تعالى فيه، فيريد النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أن يشفع فيه، فيقال: يا محمد، إن خصمه رمضان، فيقول النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: { أنا بريء ممن خصمه رمضان }.
The angels are beating someone and he immediately grabs the robes of the Prophet (s), who asks the angels, “Why are you beating him, what did he do?” They say, “Ramadan came and he did not fast!” fa yureed an Nabi (s) an yashfa`u feehi, and the Prophet (s) will jump to intercede for him, and a voice comes, “Yaa Muhammad! O Prophet of Allah! Reach us and intercede for us!” His opponent is Ramadan and the Prophet (s) says, “I am innocent and unwilling to help one who is opposed by Ramadan.”
(Nuzhat al-Majalis wa-Muntakhab an-Nafaa’is)
It means that one must be sent to Hellfire! Look at the importance and honor of Ramadan in Allah's Presence. “Ramadan” is comprised of five letters: 1st, Raa, which is for ridaa, Allah's satisfaction; 2nd, Meem, for maghfirah, Allah will forgive His servant; 3rd is Daad, and Allah is protecting and sponsoring those who are obedient to Him in Ramadan; 4th is Alif, for ilfatullahi li ‘l-mutawakileen, His familiarity with those who depend always and continuously submit to Allah; 5th is Noon, what Allah will give those who are trustworthy.
It is said that the safety of Heavens is Jibreel (a), the safety of Earth is Sayyidina Muhammad (s), and the safety of the Ummah is Ramadan!
نوم الصائم عبادة
The sleep of the fasting person is worship. (Bayhaqi)
When you sleep and you are fasting, so it is as if you are worshipping Allah in every moment. In sleep you are in submission, not making any sins. The soul goes up and makes sajda under the `Arsh and relaxes, which is why people sleep in Ramadan, which is good, but don't lose your prayers, especially in countries where the fast is 18 hours or longer. When that one asks Allah, Allah rewards him and forgives his sins. May Allah forgive our sins.
It is said whoever attends an association of dhikrullah in Ramadan, Allah will write for him every step he takes towards the majlis as complete and perfect worship, and that one will be under the Throne on Judgment Day (not under the Kursiyy; there is a big difference between the Kursi and the Throne).
Unfortunately, we don't pay attention to all these great benefits of Ramadan, but they are there for us and if you know, you have to do it.
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