Freedom From the Slavery of Sin

Freedom from the Slavery of Sin - Ramadan Khutbah

Opening Prayers and Introduction

(بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ - bismillahir-rahmanir-rahim)

. بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم، الحمد لله رب العالمين، والصلاة والسلام على سيد المرسلين، سيدنا محمد وعلى آله وصحبه وسلم تسليماً كثيراً ربنا لك الحمد كما ينبغي لجلال وجهك ولعظيم سلطانك، سبحانك لا نحصي ثناء عليك أنت كما أثنيت على نفسك، اللهم صل وسلم وبارك على .سيدنا وحبيبنا محمد وعلى آله وصحبه وسلم تسليماً كثيراً

Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. Inshallah we're going to continue with what we were doing last night which is reading from a book called "Al-Lata'if Al-Ma'arif Fima Li Mawasim Al-'Am Min Al- Waza'if" by Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali, may Allah have mercy on him and benefit us through him and through you all. This book is called "The Subtleties of Knowledge Concerning What Each Season of the Year Contains of Religious Duties." We're reading from the chapter of Ramadan which is in fact a separate book over 100 pages in this particular book. Alhamdulillah everyone was beautifully making the istighfar a little while ago seeking Allah's forgiveness, so we'll start with that subject inshallah ta'ala.

The Abundant Causes of Forgiveness in Ramadan

(بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ - bismillahir-rahmanir-rahim)

. قال المصنف رحمه الله ونفعنا الله به وبكم أجمعين، بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم، الحمد لله رب العالمين، والصلاة والسلام على سيد المرسلين، سيدنا .وحبيبنا محمد وعلى آله وصحبه وسلم تسليماً كثيراً

The author says, may Allah have mercy on him and benefit us through him and through you: " شهر رمضان تكثر "أو تكثر فيه أسباب الغفران - The month of Ramadan, the causes of forgiveness abound."

Fasting and Night Prayer

From the causes of forgiveness during the month: صيامه وقيامه وقيام ليلة القدر - fasting during this month, standing for worship at night, and standing for worship on the Night of Power, as the Prophet mentioned: »من صام رمضان إيماناً واحتساباً غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه« - "Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan with sincere faith anticipating a reward, their prior sins will be forgiven." (Sahih al-Bukhari 38, Sahih Muslim 760)

As we mentioned last night,يجتمع في رمضان جهادان، جهاد في النهار وجهاد في الليل - there are two jihads in Ramadan: a struggle in the daytime and a struggle at night. The struggle in the daytime is the fasting and the struggle at night is the worship. So the worship is a part of the struggle of the month of Ramadan.

Standing for worship during the night of power, as has been previously mentioned: »من قام رمضان إيماناً واحتساباً غُفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه« - "Whoever stands for worship during the nights of Ramadan with sincere faith anticipating a reward, their prior sins will be forgiven." (Sahih al-Bukhari 2009, Sahih Muslim 759)

And whoever stands for worship during the Night of Power" - «ومن قام ليلة القدر إيماناً واحتساباً غُفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه» with sincere faith anticipating a reward, their prior sins will be forgiven." (Sahih al-Bukhari 1901, Sahih Muslim 760)

Additional Means of Forgiveness

ومنها - And from the means leading to forgiveness: تفطير الصوام - giving the fasting people something to break their fast with is a means of forgiveness,وتخفيف عن المملوك - and lightening the burden of one who is under your employ. So if you have an employee these days and you lighten their burden during Ramadan so that they can have the energy and facility to worship Allah, then that's a means of forgiveness. وهما مذكوران في حديث سلمان المرفوع - And these have both been mentioned in the hadith of Salman which he relates back to the Prophet ﷺ.

ومنها - Amongst them:الذكر - dhikr. Everyone was making dhikr a few minutes ago, this is a means of forgiveness. وفي حديث مرفوع: «ذاكر الله في رمضان مغفور له« - And in a hadith that's related back to the Prophet ﷺ: "The one who remembers Allah in Ramadan will be forgiven."

The Power of Seeking Forgiveness

ومنها - From the causes of forgiveness in Ramadan: الاستغفار - seeking Allah's forgiveness. Previously you were all seeking Allah's forgiveness, "I seek Allah's forgiveness" - this is a means to forgiveness. والاستغفار طلب المغفرة - Istighfar is to seek forgiveness.

The Accepted Prayer of the Fasting Person

ودعاء الصائم يُستجاب في صيامه - And the prayer of the fasting person is answered during the time that he or she is fasting and at the time that he or she breaks their fast. So when you break your fast you should make du'a - make du'a for yourself, for your family, for your ummah, for the Muslims who are suffering, for the Muslims who aren't suffering that Allah continues to protect them.

As Ibn Abbas mentioned, there are two great blessings Allah reminds us of in the Qur'an: »الَّذِي أَطْعَمَهُم مِّن جُوعٍ وَآمَنَهُم مِّنْ خَوْفٍ« - "The one who has fed them and driven off hunger from them and has made them secure from fear." (Quran 106:4) So the blessing of having adequate food and the blessing of safety and security - these are two huge blessings.

We should ask Allah at the time that we break our fast that He continues to protect us. Look at Syria, when we were there it was unimaginable that the fitna that's there now would afflict that country - there was so much stability and there was so much internal harmony. And just as Allah can turn the hearts - and that's why we ask Allah to protect our hearts: »يا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِي عَلَى دِينِكَ« - "O Turner of hearts, keep my heart firm upon Your religion." This is one of the prayers the Prophet ﷺ repeated more than any other: »اللَّهُمَّ يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ« - "O Allah, O Turner of hearts, confirm my heart in Your faith, in this religion." (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 2140)

And Allah can turn societies, so we have to seek Allah's protection. You know, look at this person who's running for president - he goes to Jerusalem and he makes these racist idiotic statements. Who's financing his campaign? The likes of this Adelson guy, hardcore Zionist billionaire. Who are his Islamic advisors? Walid Phares and Daniel Pipes - those are the Islamic advisors of a man who could be president of the United States. So we have to pray to Allah that Allah protects us. The safety we enjoy could be taken just like that, so pray at the time you break your fast, pray while you're fasting - these are times that the prayer is answered.

The Du'a of Ibn Umar

اللهم سأل رسول الله، ودعاء الصائم يُستجاب في صيامه وعند فطره، ولهذا كان ابن عمر إذا أفطر يقول: «اللَّهُمَّ يَا وَاسِعَ الْمَغْفِرَةِ اغْفِرْ :He says لي« - "O Allah, the one most expansive in His forgiveness, forgive me."

So consistent with this, Ibn Umar when he would break his fast he would say: اللَّهُمَّ يَا وَاسِعَ الْمَغْفِرَةِ اغْفِرْ لِي - "O Allah, the one most expansive in Your forgiveness, forgive me."

اللَّهُمَّ يَا وَاسِعَ الْمَغْفِرَةِ اغْفِرْ لِي. اللَّهُمَّ يَا وَاسِعَ الْمَغْفِرَةِ اغْفِرْ لِي. اللَّهُمَّ يَا وَاسِعَ الْمَغْفِرَةِ اغْفِرْ لِي : We should say this du'a "O Allah, the one most expansive in His forgiveness, forgive me."

Those Who Refuse Forgiveness

اللهم صل على سيدنا محمد. وفي حديث أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه المرفوع في فضل شهر رمضان: ويُغفر فيه إلا لمن أبى»، قالوا: يا أبا هريرة من يأبى أن يستغفر :ومن يأبى؟ قال« - And in a hadith from Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that he relates back to the Prophet ﷺ concerning the virtue of the month of Ramadan, he says: "Everyone will be forgiven during this month except one who refuses." They said: "O Abu Hurayrah, who would ever refuse?" He said: "One who refuses to ask Allah for forgiveness."

Alhamdulillah. Let's take a moment to ask Allah for forgiveness: ،أستغفر الله، أستغفر الله، أستغفر الله، أستغفر الله، أستغفر الله . أستغفر الله

The" - إن أسباب المغفرة في رمضان كثيرة، فمن فاتته المغفرة فيه محروم غاية الحرمان : He conveys this meaning previously causes of forgiveness during the month of Ramadan are so abundant, the one who misses the opportunity to be forgiven during the month has been deprived the epitome of deprivation." All of these means, there are more. This is just a sampling that we mentioned. So one who goes from this month and isn't forgiven has been deprived, as he said,غاية الحرمان - the epitome of deprivation. There's no deprivation after that deprivation. May Allah spare us. Ameen.

The Warning of Jibril

قیل یا رسول الله، إنك صعدت المنبر فقلت: آمین، آمین آمین ثلاثاً. قال: «إن جبريل أتاني فقال: من :He mentions in another narration It was said: "O Messenger of Allah, verily you - أدرك شهر رمضان فلم يُغفر له فأُدخل النار فأُبعد، قل آمین، فقلت: آمین ascended the minbar and you said 'Ameen, Ameen, Ameen' three times." He said: "Verily Jibril came to me and he said: 'Whoever attains to the month of Ramadan and is not forgiven during the month, then let him enter the hellfire and be distanced from Allah. Say Ameen.' So I said: Ameen."

And whoever, one of his parents or" - «ومن أدرك أحد والديه أو كليهما فلم يبرهما فمات فأُدخل النار فأبعد، قل آمین، فقلت: آمین» both of his parents survive and they are not a source of goodness for him or he does not treat them righteously and then he dies, let him enter the hellfire and be distanced from Allah. Say Ameen. And I said: Ameen."

And whoever you are mentioned in their" - «ومن ذُكرت عنده فلم يصلّ عليك فمات فأُدخل النار فأبعد، قل آمین، فقلت: آمین» presence and they do not pray for peace and blessings for you, then they die, let them enter the hellfire and be distanced from Allah. Say Ameen. And I said: Ameen."

ARABIC TEXT (CRITICAL - PRESERVE EXACTLY)

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"O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may attain taqwa."

So taqwa is one of the great goals of Ramadan. So I have ordained fasting for you as I ordained it for those who preceded you, in order that you grow in your taqwa. And so the fasting enhances our taqwa, and the taqwa invites the mercy of Allah. Allah says in the Qur'an: "My mercy I will ordain it for those who have taqwa."

And then Ramadan is the month of generosity and spending. So the Prophet ﷺ was the most generous of people, and the time he was especially generous was Ramadan, when Jibril would come to him and review the Qur'an with him. And so Ramadan is the time people like to pay their zakah, and it's the time people are especially charitable, and the mercy of Allah is for those who pay their zakah. So the mercy of Allah is an indication of its abounding in Ramadan.

And so the cloak of Allah's mercy and His pleasure spreads over the people of taqwa during the beginning of Ramadan, and the people of good - they're treated with grace and goodness.

Forgiveness in the Middle of Ramadan

As for the middle part of the month, forgiveness predominates. And so during these days, forgiveness predominates for the fasting people, even those who have perpetrated some minor sins. That does not prevent them from being forgiven.

"Verily your Lord is the one who possesses wide forgiveness for people in spite of their oppression." So in spite of their sins.

Liberation in the Final Days

And as for the end of the month, liberation from the hellfire predominates. And this is for the people who would ordinarily have been ruined because of their sins, and they deserve to be punished in the fire of hell because of their major transgressions.

Which he relates back to the Prophet ﷺ: «إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ مِّن رَّمَضَانَ عِندَ ٱلْإِفْطَارِ مَلْيُونَ عَتِيقٍ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ» - "Verily Allah has every night in Ramadan at the time of Iftar one million people that He liberates from the hellfire."

And then when the night of" - «وَإِذَا كَانَ لَيْلَةُ ٱلْجُمُعَةِ أَوْ يَوْمُ ٱلْجُمُعَةِ يُعْتَقُ فِي كُلِّ لَحْظَةٍ مَلْيُونٌ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ، كُلُّهُمْ قَدِ ٱسْتَوْجَبُواْ ٱلْعَذَابَ» Jumu'ah or the day of Jumu'ah comes, He liberates during every moment one million people from the hellfire, all of them deserving to be punished therein."

And then" - «وَإِذَا كَانَ ءَاخِرُ لَيْلَةٍ مِّن شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ أَعْتَقَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ بِعَدَدِ مَنْ أَعْتَقَ مِنْ أَوَّلِ ٱلشَّهْرِ إِلَىٰ ءَاخِرِهِۦ، وَقَدِ ٱسْتَوْجَبُواْ كُلُّهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابَ» when the last night of the month of Ramadan comes, Allah liberates from the hellfire the number that He's liberated from the beginning of the month to the end of the month, and all of them have deserved to be punished because of their sins."

لاَ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ. This is Allah. This is Allah. The stern, unforgiving God of the Muslims? And this is your refutation of those empty, ignorant claims. Ramadan is your hujjah, your proof, over anyone who claims that Allah lacks

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mercy and lacks forgiveness and lacks concern for His servants. This is your proof. Ramadan is your proof. لاَ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ

So this hadith is related by Salama bin Shabib and others.

Eid al-Fitr: A Celebration of Liberation

And" - وَإِنَّمَا كَانَ يَوْمُ ٱلْفِطْرِ مِن رَّمَضَانَ عِيدًا لِّجَمِيعِ ٱلْأُمَّةِ لِأَنَّهُ يُعْتَقُ فِيهِ مِنَ ٱلصَّائِمِينَ مِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكَبَائِرِ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ، فَيَلْتَحِقُ ٱلْمُذْنِبُونَ فِيهِ بِٱلْأَبْرَارِ rather, Eid al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan is a festive day for the entire ummah because during it He liberates the people who have perpetrated the major sins from the fasting people from the hellfire. And during that day those sinners join the ranks and get the privilege of forgiveness that's extended to the righteous."

كَمَا أَنَّ يَوْمَ ٱلنَّحْرِ هُوَ ٱلْعِيدُ ٱلْأَكْبَرُ لِأَنَّ قَبْلَهُ يَوْمُ عَرَفَةَ - "Just as the day of sacrifice is the great Eid because it's preceded by the day of Arafah." Because it's the day - there's no day in the days of this world that more people are liberated from the hellfire than on the day of Arafah.

فَمَنْ عُتِقَ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ فِي ٱلْيَوْمَيْنِ فَلَهُ يَوْمُ عِيدٍ - "So whoever is liberated from the hellfire on these two days has a day of celebration."

وَمَنْ فَاتَهُ ٱلْعِتْقُ فِي ٱلْيَوْمَيْنِ فَلَهُ يَوْمُ وَعِيدٍ - "And whoever fails to be liberated during these two days, he has a day where the threat of Allah's anger is facing him."

Completing the Month with Gratitude

And Allah, Most High, has ordered upon fasting the month and standing its nights in prayer. Allah Ta'ala has ordered the servants : وَلِتُكْمِلُواْ ٱلْعِدَّةَ - that He completes the designated period.

وَلِتُكْمِلُواْ ٱلْعِدَّةَ - So to complete the worship of the month, not the first week when everyone has a lot of enthusiasm, and then the second week they start ducking out after eight rakaats, and then the third week they don't even come anymore, and then the fourth week they start getting ready for Eid. They make phone calls: "Did they see the moon? Did they see the moon? Hurry up and get done with it." وَلِتُكْمِلُواْ ٱلْعِدَّةَ، وَٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُسْتَعَانُ، لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِ - That you complete the period of 29 or 30 days.

مَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ، مَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَٰنًا وَٱحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُۥ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِن ذَنۢبِهِۦ مَن صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَٰنًا وَٱحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُۥ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِن ذَنۢبِهِۦ. لَيْسَ مَن قَامَ أُسْبُوعَ ٱلْأَوَّلِ مِن رَمَضَانَ - "Whoever stands for worship the whole of the month and whoever fasts the whole of the month, not just the first week of Ramadan."

وَلِتُكَبِّرُواْ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ - "And to extol the greatness of Allah for guiding you to complete the period."

وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ - "In order that you will give thanks." This is why the Eid is a day of shukr, thanking Allah that He blessed us to complete the period, thanking Allah that He guided us to be able to have the privilege and the honor of extolling His greatness and blessing us with the means to give Allah thanks and something to thank Allah for.

Expressing Gratitude to Allah

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فَٱشْكُرُواْ مَنْ أَنْعَمَ عَلَىٰ عِبَادِهِۦ بِتَوْفِيقِهِۦ لِلصِّيَامِ - "This is what we said. The thankfulness is from the one who has given His servants the facilitation to undertake the fast."

وَإِعَانَتِهِمْ عَلَيْهِ - "And has helped them to complete it and assisted them by giving us something to have breakfast with in the morning, giving us something to make iftar with, so we could continue fasting with vigor, so we can have the strength to pray at night."

Think: We fasted all day and there's no clean water to drink, there's no food to eat and replenish our bodies.

How difficult would it be to be here right now, one in the morning, still going strong? Allahu Akbar. It would be difficult, but Allah has assisted us and aided us and given us the wherewithal to nurture and nourish our bodies so we could be here right now, and we could keep fasting, and we can keep praying, and we can keep extolling the greatness of Allah.

وَبِهِ لَهُمْ وَمَغْفِرَتِهِ لَهُمْ - "And for His forgiving them during the month."

وَإِعْتَاقُهُمْ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ - "And His liberating them from the hellfire." This is why we thank Allah.

وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ - This is why we thank Allah.

وَأَن تَذْكُرُوهُ وَتَشْكُرُوهُ وَتَتَّقُوهُ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِۦ - "And that you remember Him and thank Him and be mindful of Him as should rightfully be the case."

بِأَن يُطَاعَ فَلَا يُعْصَىٰ، وَيُذْكَرَ فَلَا يُنْسَىٰ، وَيُشْكَرَ فَلَا يُكْفَرُ - "That He is obeyed and He is not rebelled against, that He is remembered and that He is not forgotten, that He is thanked and His blessings are not taken for granted." This is حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِۦ

So we should commit ourselves to being the people of obedience. We should commit ourselves that we will strive with might and main to never disobey Allah as long as we live. If we slip and fall short, we'll renew that commitment inshallah.

Oh Allah, we commit ourselves that we'll be the people of obedience and we'll never rebel against You as long as You keep us alive in this world. With Your help and Your assistance, Ya Allah, assist us to fulfill what we're . وَإِن يُطَاعَ فَلَا يُعْصَىٰ .committing

The People of Gratitude and Remembrance

And may Allah bless us to be the people of shukr. وَإِن يُشْكَرْ فَلَا يُغْفَرُ - May Allah bless us to be the people of shukr. May Allah bless us to be the people of dhikr. وَإِن يُذْكَرْ فَلَا يُنْسَىٰ.

Subhanallah, if someone gave you a million dollars, you'd never forget them, would you? They just met you on the street: "يا فلان أهلاً وسهلاً، إني أحبك في الله، فخذ مليون دولار" - You'd never forget that person. You'd pray for Ahmed every night: "Ya Allah bless Ahmed." You'd never forget Ahmed.

Subhanallah, what Allah Ta'ala has given us is far more valuable than a hundred million dollars. How could we ever forget Allah? How much is your eyesight worth? If you lost your eyesight and you had a hundred million dollars, and the doctor said: "I think I could fix your vision, I think I could get your sight back, but it's gonna cost you a hundred million dollars" are you gonna hold on to the money or are you gonna get your sight back?

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How much is your taste worth? If you ate your food and you couldn't taste it anymore, and the doctor said: "I could restore your taste, it's gonna cost you a million dollars" - you'd part with the million dollars. If you lost your hearing: "I could get it back for you, but the operation's gonna cost a million dollars" - you'd part with the million dollars. And you'd never forget that doctor. You'd say: "Mashallah, that's the greatest specialist on earth. I went to so many doctors, no one could help me, and that doctor got my sight back, mashallah." You'd never forget him.

How could we forget Allah who gave us this sight and perpetuates it? How could we forget Allah who's given us this hearing and perpetuates it? How could we forget Allah who's given us our taste, given us our ability to feel? Think how we could harm ourselves if we couldn't feel. Our hand is burning, we don't even know it till we smell it: "Oh boy!" because we can't feel anything. Then our hand is burned up.

Allah has blessed us : »وَأَسْبَغَ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعَمَهُ ظَاهِرَةً وَبَاطِنَةً« - "He's extended His blessings upon you in open and hidden ways." (Quran 31:20) In open and hidden ways.

لاَ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ. How could we forget Allah? He says: "You remember Allah!" And remember Allah! All these blessings!

The Ramadan of Complaints

People, this is the Ramadan of complaints. So many people calling, complaining, calling, emailing, complaining. They have their health, they have their wealth, they have their children, they have their spouses, they have their houses, they have food in the fridge, but they're complaining: "Oh, oh, woe is me!"

Subhanallah, where is your love for Allah? Where is your connection to Allah? Where is your appreciation for the blessings Allah has given you? The people who should be complaining - they're not complaining. You go to Gaza right now in Ramadan, and people are praying and fasting under the eye of drones flying over that can unleash the kind of hell that was unleashed on the people of Gaza a few years ago in Operation Cast Lead. Are they complaining? Any Palestinians in the house? Palestinians - people complaining in Gaza? They're not complaining. They're thanking Allah.

They don't have the food you have, they don't have the house you have, they don't have the security you have. They can't get married as easy as you can get married. They have to wait till they're 40 years old, right? The shabab drive a taxi in Gaza, saving up their - unfortunately they have to save up their shekels for 20 years to get married. You get out of college, you don't even graduate college, you get married your junior year in college, and you're complaining?

Where is Allah? Where is the remembrance of Allah? If you remember Allah and remember the blessings and bounties and grace and mercy and forgiveness and liberation of Allah ta'ala, there'd be no room in your heart for complaining. No room in your heart for complaining.

That He's thanked for His blessings and the" - لاَ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ أَن يُطَاعَ فَلَا يُعْصَىٰ، أَن يُذْكَرَ فَلَا يُنْسَىٰ، وَأَن يُشْكَرَ فَلَا يُكْفَرُ blessings aren't rejected."

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And what if we find the wherewithal to thank Allah? »وَلَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ« - Allah said: "I will give you more, all you have to do is thank Me, all you have to do is thank Me." (Quran 14:7)

لاَ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ، لاَ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ

Seize the Opportunity of These Noble Days

يَا أَرْبَابَ ٱلذُّنُوبِ ٱلْعَظِيمَةِ، ٱلْغَنِيمَةَ ٱلْغَنِيمَةَ فِي هَٰذِهِ ٱلْأَيَّامِ ٱلْكَرِيمَةِ، فَمَا مِنْهَا عِوَضٌ وَلَا لَهَا قِيمَةٌ - O you possessors of great sins, take the bounty, take the bounty of these noble days! And these days, they have no substitute and no other days have their value, their value."

فَمَا مِنْهَا عِوَضٌ وَلَا لَهَا قِيمَةٌ - You won't find days like this, brothers and sisters. Take advantage of these days. Once it's gone, it's not coming back. Maybe we'll have next Ramadan, but next Ramadan is not this Ramadan. Once this Ramadan is gone, once these days are gone, they're never coming back. Maybe we'll have next Ramadan, maybe not. Next year is not promised to any of us.

Take advantage now. Get the harvest now. Get the ghanima now. Get the booty now, because next year we might not be around to have the opportunity. وَٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُسْتَعَانُ، وَٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُسْتَعَانُ.

Liberation from the Slavery of Sin

How many people have been liberated from the hellfire, and they're from the people of sin and crime - crimes against Allah and against their soul? Whoever is liberated from the hellfire, they've gotten the all-encompassing prize, and they've gotten the most huge gift. To translate جَسِيمَةٌ - huge. Say: "هَٰذَا ٱلْأَخُ جَسِيمٌ" - like it's huge. But هَٰذِهِ ٱلْمِنْحَةُ ٱلْجَسِيمَةُ - this is a great, great huge gift from Allah.

He says: "O the one who's been liberated by his Lord from the hellfire, beware at all costs that you return after you've been made free to the slavery of sin."

Sin is slavery, and living a life free of sin is liberation. May Allah liberate us, all of us.

لاَ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ، لاَ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ

Closing Supplications

ٱللَّهُ يَبَارِكُ فِيكُمْ، ٱللَّهُ يَتَقَبَّلُ مِنْكُمْ، زَادَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ فِي كُلِّ خَيْرٍ - So he goes on. It's like

نَسْأَلُ ٱللَّهَ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ لَكُمْ وَلَنَا وَلِلْمُسْلِمِينَ جَمِيعًا جَمِيعًا ٱلتَّوْفِيقَ وَٱلْعَافِيَةَ. نَسْأَلُ ٱللَّهَ تَعَالَىٰ لَنَا وَلَكُمْ وَلِلْمُسْلِمِينَ جَمِيعًا ٱلْعِتْقَ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ. نَسْأَلُ ٱللَّهَ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ لَنَا وَلَكُمْ وَلِلْمُسْلِمِينَ جَمِيعًا ٱلْمَغْفِرَةَ فِي هَٰذَا ٱلشَّهْرِ. نَسْأَلُ ٱللَّهَ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ لَنَا وَلَكُمْ وَلِلْمُسْلِمِينَ جَمِيعًا ٱلْفَوْزَ بِٱلْجَنَّةِ وَصُحْبَةَ ٱلْأَبْرَارِ. نَسْأَلُ ٱللَّهَ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ جَنَّةَ ٱلْفِرْدَوْسِ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ مَعَ زُمْرَةِ ٱلنَّبِيِّۦنَ وَٱلصِّدِّيقِينَ وَٱلشُّهَدَآءِ وَٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ، وَحَسُنَ أُولَٰئِكَ رَفِيقًا

ٱللَّهُ يَبَارِكُ فِيكُمْ

Additional Spiritual Practices

One of the wazifa in addition to ٱلْعَفْوِ - asking Allah for pardon - also is the kalimatul tawheed during these days. So we ask Allah ta'ala that He blesses us to repeat abundantly: لاَ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ

Alhamdulillah, Qari Umar took you through the whole guided tour: istighfar, tahleel, al-'afu, tasbeeh.

"Two words that are" - («كَلِمَتَانِ خَفِيفَتَانِ عَلَى اللِّسَانِ، ثَقِيلَتَانِ فِي الْمِيزَانِ، حَبِيبَتَانِ إِلَى الرَّحْمَٰنِ: «سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ، سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ - light on the tongue, heavy in the scales, beloved to the Most Merciful: Glory be to Allah and praise be to Him, Glory be to Allah the Magnificent.") (Sahih al-Bukhari 6406, Sahih Muslim 2694)

Alhamdulillah. So may Allah bless us to continue these good practices. May Allah ta'ala - we can do a little (لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ - La ilaha illallah) in the context of a qasida inshallah ta'ala. Then I seek your permission to move on inshallah to other stops and destinations. May Allah bless you.

Qasida: La ilaha illallah

(مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ، عَلَيْهِ صَلَاةُ ٱللَّٰهِ - Muhammadun rasoolu Allahi, alayhi salatu Allahi)

(بِهَا يَثْبُتُ ٱلْإِيمَانُ، بِهَا يَحْصُلُ ٱلْأَمَانُ - Biha yathbutul imanu, biha yahsulul aman)

(يُكَرِّرُهَا ٱلْإِنْسَانُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ، عَلَيْهِ صَلَاةُ ٱللَّٰهِ - Yukariruha al-insanu Muhammadun rasoolu Allahi, alayhi salatu Allahi)

(قَدْ أَتَانَا فِي ٱلْأَخْبَارِ، عَنِ ٱلنَّبِيِّ ٱلْمُخْتَارِ - Qad atana fil akhbari, anin nabiyyil mukhtar)

(أَنَّ أَفْضَلَ ٱلْأَذْكَارِ : مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ، عَلَيْهِ صَلَاةُ ٱللَّٰهِ - Anna afdalal azkari: Muhammadun rasoolu Allahi, alayhi salatu Allahi)

(تَكْرَارُهَا مَا أَحْلَىٰ، مَا أَبْهَاهُ مَا أَحْلَىٰ - Takraruha ma ahla, ma abhaha ma ahla)

(تَنَالُ ٱلْأَبَدَ مِنْ مَوْلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ، عَلَيْهِ صَلَاةُ ٱللَّٰهِ - Tanalul abada min mawla Muhammadun rasoolu Allahi, alayhi salatu Allahi)

(هِيَ حِصْنٌ كَٱلْحَصِينِ، هِيَ دِرْعٌ كَٱلْمَتِينِ - Hiya hisnun kal hasin, hiya dir'un kal matin)

(ذِكْرُ رَبِّ ٱلْعَالَمِينَ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ، عَلَيْهِ صَلَاةُ ٱللَّٰهِ - Zikru rabbil alamin Muhammadun rasoolu Allahi, alayhi salatu Allahi)

(ذَاكِرُهَا لَا يَشْقَىٰ، لَا يَنَالُ فَرْقًا - Zakiruha la yashqa, la yanal farqa)

(هِيَ عُرْوَةُ ٱلْمُوثْقَىٰ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ، عَلَيْهِ صَلَاةُ ٱللَّٰهِ - Hiya urwatul wuthqa Muhammadun rasoolu Allahi, alayhi salatu Allahi)

(لَازِمُوهَا يَا إِخْوَانُ، نَوِّرُوا بِهَا ٱلْجِنَانَ - Lazimuha ya ikhwan, nawwiru bihal jinan)

(إِنَّ مِفْتَاحَ ٱلْجِنَانِ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ، عَلَيْهِ صَلَاةُ ٱللَّٰهِ - Inna miftahal jinani Muhammadun rasoolu Allahi, alayhi salatu Allahi)

(لَازِمُوهَا بِٱلْأَسْحَارِ، وَٱلْعَشِيِّ وَٱلْإِبْكَارِ - Lazimuha bil ashar, wal ashi wal ibkar)

(تَسْتَمِدُّوهُ مِنْ أَنْوَارِ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ، عَلَيْهِ صَلَاةُ ٱللَّٰهِ - Tastamiduha min anwari Muhammadun rasoolu Allahi, alayhi salatu Allahi)

(خَيْرُ خَلْقٍ عِنْدَ ٱللَّٰهِ، صَاحِبُ ٱلْعِزِّ وَٱلْجَاهِ - Khayru khalqin inda Allahi, saahibul izzi wal jah)

(خَاتَمُ رُسُلِ ٱلْإِلَٰهِ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ، لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ - Khatamu rusulil ilahi Muhammadun rasoolu Allahi, la ilaha illallah)

(لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ، لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ - La ilaha illallah, la ilaha illallah)

(مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ، عَلَيْهِ صَلَاةُ ٱللَّٰهِ - Muhammadun rasoolu Allahi, alayhi salatu Allahi)

Final Supplications for the Muslim Ummah

اللهم أزل عنهم الحكم العسكري. اللهم أزل عن الشعب المصري الحكم العسكري. اللهم أعطهم ثمرات ثوراتهم يا الله، وفي ليبيا وتونس والجزائر . والمغرب وفي موريتانيا والسنغال وغامبيا ونيجيريا

. اللهم انصرنا في هذا البلد. اللهم انصرنا في هذا البلد. أنت مولانا فانصرنا على القوم الكافرين

وعلى نية القبول لما قدمنا في هذا الشهر المبارك، وعلى نية الفرج، وعلى نية الشفاء لمرضى المسلمين جميعاً، على وجه الخصوص من ذكره . قارئ عمر قبل قليل الذي أصيب في قلبه وهو الآن في مستشفى

. اللهم اشفه واشف مرضى المسلمين جميعاً. أنت مولانا فانصرنا على القوم الكافرين

. سبحان ربك رب العزة عما يصفون وسلام على المرسلين، والحمد لله رب العالمين

الفاتحة. الفاتحة