A Day in Ramadan

A Day in Ramadan - Khutbah by Mufti Menk

Opening Khutbah

My beloved brothers and sisters, once again we remind each other regarding development of the relationship with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Develop the consciousness of Allah, remember that we have come from Allah, we will be returning to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.

So while we are on earth for a short period of time, let's make the most of our time by worshipping Allah in the most beautiful way, wherever we have erred and faltered, we should seek the forgiveness of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, for indeed He is most forgiving, most merciful.

The Purpose of Ramadan

My brothers and sisters, the month of Ramadan is passing by very quickly. What we need to understand is Ramadan is not only about abstaining from food and water and permissible sexual desires, but rather it is also about being conscious of our actions and our words.

Many people don't realize that the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him said, a person who says bad things, bears false witness, does bad actions, actually has wasted the reward of the fast. So we need to realize in order to fulfill the fast in the most correct way, we need to be able to discipline ourselves such that we say very good words while we are fasting. We also do actions only those that would please Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.

We must go out of our way to abstain from anything hurtful, harmful, abusive, and anything that would earn the displeasure of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. So much so that wasting our time on that which is futile, that which would not bring about rewards is also something we need to stay away from. Use your day wisely, my brothers and sisters.

The Last Ten Days of Ramadan

As we draw to the last 10 nights of Ramadan, we must realize the closer to the end the days are, the more valuable they are in the eyes of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. He has kept the second 10 days and nights of Ramadan more valuable than the first. And he has kept the last 10 more valuable than the second 10.

That is an amazing divine wisdom where Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala wants us to become even better during this month of Ramadan. Brothers and sisters, if you think about it, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says in Surah Al-Baqarah:

In order that you complete the prescribed time.

This prescribed time is so unique that if Ramadan was less than a month, it would feel wrong. And if Ramadan was more than a month, it would also feel wrong. But it's exactly a month in the year. And that is unique because it is just right for us to reset our relationship with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, ensuring that we have sought the forgiveness of Allah.

The Great Reward of Ramadan

And one of the biggest achievements of the month of Ramadan is to achieve forgiveness. The Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him says:

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 38; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 760)

Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan with full conviction, belief and faith, expecting a reward, hoping for a reward from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, Allah wipes out all the previous sins of that individual.

And whoever stands at night in worship, whoever spends the night in worship for Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala with full conviction and belief, expecting a reward from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, then Allah wipes out the previous sins of that individual.

So this is the wiping out of sins by the fasting and the worship at night. Imagine if a person were to benefit in that way spiritually, what do you think the other benefits that may be hidden sometimes would be? Many people say, when I fast, I actually feel healthy. Do you know the intermittent fasting outside the month of Ramadan, the Monday and the Thursday fast? There are many experts who don't even belong to Islam who actually say that it is extremely beneficial for your health.

Many experts speak about the month of Ramadan and the non-Muslims from among them also admit the health benefits of fasting. So when we fast, the primary intention will always be to obey the instruction of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, to fulfill the pillar of Islam, to ensure that we have done what we are supposed to be doing for the sake of Allah. On top of that, we will be having so many other benefits that will be thrown in by Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.

May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala grant us goodness and make it easy for us to fast during this beautiful month of Ramadan in a way that we can achieve the forgiveness and in a way that we can also earn the greater blessings of the fast.

A Blessed Day in Ramadan

Pre-Dawn and Fajr Prayer

Ideally, it is important for us to have the pre-dawn meal. It should be a light meal for barakah and blessings. And at the same time, the minute the time of Fajr enters, the fast begins. When the fast begins, we must make sure that we have fulfilled our daily prayers. What is the point of a person who is fasting which is the fulfillment of one pillar and during fulfilling that pillar or while trying to fulfill that pillar, they are actually destroying another pillar which is Salah.

So this is something we need to consider. For the fasting to be able to get us to where we are supposed to be in terms of reward, we must be fulfilling the other pillars of Islam. So as soon as the fast commences, let's make sure that we fulfill Salatul Fajr.

That is the early morning prayer, the pre-sunrise prayer, Fajr. When we fulfill that in the correct way, we will definitely be earning the pleasure of Allah. Once you've done the fulfillment of Salatul Fajr on your place, if you spare a moment to remember Allah slightly, a little, you will be able to benefit so much because good deeds are definitely multiplied in the month of Ramadan.

So that is how we commence the day. We have had the pre-dawn meal. We then got ready for Salatul Fajr. We fulfilled that prayer and thereafter we engaged in a little bit of dhikr known as the remembrance of Allah. One of the most beautiful ways of remembering Allah subhanahu wa'ta'ala is to recite the Quran. Let's spend a moment at that time to read even if it is just a page or a portion of the page. It's a blessed way to start the day.

Thereafter depending on which part of the world you live in, you may want to relax. You may want to go to bed, especially during these days when we have restrictions placed on us. Many are still under lockdown and many are under some form of restriction. You may want to recline and relax for a while before you get up to fulfill the other duties that you have as a human being and also as a Muslim. When we get up in the morning, we must ensure that we are fresh and ready to face the day bearing in mind that we are fasting.

Conduct During Fasting

If anyone were to swear us or to abuse us, to say something hurtful, don't swear them back and don't abuse them back. The prophet salallahu alayhi wasalam says:

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1904; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1151)

If anyone swears or abuses one of you who is fasting, then he should say I am fasting.

You just reply, I am fasting, which means I'm not going to engage in the ignorance that you're engaging in.

Be conscious of the fast. Just like we would not allow anything to go into our mouths and we would be conscious of it, be it water, be it anything else. We should also be conscious of what comes out of the mouth.

In Ramadan, make sure it is good words. Make sure they are blessed. Make sure it's filled with the remembrance of Allah, the consciousness of Allah, even the expression on your face, you should become more conscious of.

Learn to smile at your loved ones. Learn to smile at those around you and those you interact with. When we are fasting, many people look so miserable and sad as though they're about to die sometimes.

Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala tells us about how the expressions on your face could actually serve as a charity and you would earn a great reward for these expressions. That's why the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam says:

The smile that you have on your face or towards your brother is actually a charity. [Jami' at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1956]

If done correctly with the right reasons for the sake of Allah, it is definitely a charity.

So my brothers and sisters, make sure that you have a good expression on your face. Say kind words, good words, empowering words. Don't hurt people's feelings in the month of Ramadan.

But the idea is when we get used to this during the entire month, we should be exiting the month of Ramadan with equal goodness bearing in mind that we definitely need to continue the goodness for the rest of the months of the year. So as your day progresses, you may feel that you cannot drink water, a slight thirst, maybe a little bit of hunger. You continue for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and Allah will grant you ease through the day.

Try not to think too much of the food and drink through the time because what happens is if you were to think too much of food and drink at a time when you're not allowed to eat or drink, then it becomes more difficult for one to continue with the fast. One of the good things that we are taught is Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala makes it easy for the one who has a blessed intention and who is determined. So we are determined.

Remembering the Less Fortunate

While we are feeling a little sense of hunger, we need to think about those who have no food, no drink, even on ordinary days. And we should be from among those who reach out to them through our charities, which is yet another pillar of Islam. So three pillars in total already being fulfilled and the first pillar of Islam being the utterance of the shahada should also be fulfilled during Ramadan.

If you take a careful look what has happened during this blessed month, we have said the dhikr of Allah. We've remembered Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala even through saying la ilaha illallah muhammadur rasulullah. There is none worthy of worship besides Allah and Muhammad peace be upon him is his messenger.

We have said that which is the first pillar of Islam. Then we have fulfilled our prayers, which is the second pillar of Islam. Then we have given charities, which is the third pillar of Islam and we are fasting, which is the fourth pillar of Islam.

How blessed this month is. Have you ever thought of that? Subhanallah. And many of us who may be planning on going for Hajj, we start the planning of the fifth pillar of Islam during Ramadan.

It's amazing how Allah works. May Allah make the Hajj this year easy for us and may He allow us to participate in the Hajj and may He grant a good opening to the holy sites in Mecca and Medina after this virus that has taken over the globe. Ameen.

Ameen ya rabbal alameen. So my brothers and sisters, this is what makes Ramadan so powerful. There is a lot that Ramadan has to offer us. Make the most of it.

Dhuhr Prayer and Adhkar

Then we would fulfill our Salatul Dhuhr, which is the second prayer of the day. Again, once we complete Salatul Dhuhr, we need to know that we must try and stay in our position and fulfill what is known as the Adhkar, the remembrances.

If you were to say Subhanallah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times, Allahu Akbar, either 33 times or 34 times. And if we were to say it 33 times, then the 34th would actually be the powerful statement:

These powerful words of remembrance of Allah. What are we doing? We're glorifying Allah, declaring the greatness of Allah, praising Allah and confirming that there is none worthy of worship besides Him and there is no might, no power except that of Allah subhanahu wa'ta'ala.

If you were to say these words of remembrance after the Fardh prayer, you would actually be achieving a massive reward. So much so that once the poor were complaining that O Messenger peace be upon him, the wealthy have gone with great rewards because obviously they spend money and we don't have the money to spend. The prophet salallahu alayhi wasalam taught them these words to say after the Fardh prayer in order for them to achieve an even greater reward and entry into Paradise.

So remember these words, my brothers, my sisters, take a moment. It does not take more than a few minutes to earn the pleasure of Allah in a unique way immediately after the Fardh prayer.

Sunnah and Nafl Prayers

Then my brothers and sisters spare a moment to try your best to fulfill the Sunnah and the Nafl. What is Sunnah and Nafl? When it comes to prayer, we talk about the obligatory prayer, which means two units for Fajr, four units for Dhuhr, four units for Asr, three units for Maghrib and four units for Isha. That is absolutely obligatory known as Fardh. Beyond that, there is that which is not obligatory, but recommended or a practice of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him known as Sunnah.

If you were to do it, you will earn a great reward. And if you were to miss it, you won't actually be sinful, but you'll be losing out on the great reward. So that is Sunnah.

Try and engage in some of these Sunnah. They will definitely be very beneficial and they get you used to fulfilling the acts of worship that are Sunnah even outside the month of Ramadan. My brothers and sisters, what is amazing is we should also try to fulfill some Nafilah.