Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
We are now a little more than a week before Ramadan. Our Master Muhammad sallalahu alayhi wa sallam said, "Truly the month of Rajab is the Month of Allah, the month of Sha'ban is my Month and the month of Ramadan is the Month of the Community."
Now the 27th of Rajab the Night of Isra & Miraj has passed and last week, the night of Nisfu-sh-Sha'ban is passed, the Night of Forgiveness and Mercy, is now only a memory and the last precious days of Sha'ban are fading with their opportunity for fasting and salawat on the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wa sallam.
Aisha (ra) reported that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, "On the Day of Resurrection all the people will be hungry with the exception of the Prophets, their families and those who fast in Rajab, Sha'ban and Ramadan. Allah is the Lord of Sovereignty Whose Mercy is Abundant, Whose Grace is Vast and Whose Generosity is Endless. He pardons those who make tawba and repent. In these months His mercy and generosity overflow."
According to Hadith Qudsi, you may hear, if you listen carefully, a voice saying, "Are there none who love us that we may love them? Are there none who repent that we may forgive them? Are there none who seek Me that I may reveal Myself and show them My Beauty?"
Brothers and sisters, do not waste what is left of this month of Sha'ban. Make tawba. Since Sha'ban is also the month of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, also take the time left in these last days of Sha'ban to make salawat abundantly in accord with what Allah says, "Inna Allaha wa malaikatuhu yusalli alan Nabi. Ya ayyuhal-ladhina amanu sallu alayhi wa sallimu tasliman."
There are many darood you may find for this purpose as well as istighfar like "Astagfirullah 'alladhi laa ilaha huwa rahmanur rahimul-hayyul qayyum wa atubu ilayh."
Also try to fast at least one day more before Ramadan comes. Osama bin Zayd said, "Ya Rasul Allah, I see you fasting more in Sha'ban than any other month save Ramadan." Prophet sallalahu alayhis salam said, "Sha'ban is a month that is neglected by many. It is a month in which an account of the deeds of the people is presented before the Lord of the universe, so I wish my deeds will be presented while I am fasting.
Also, if you haven't already done so on the Laylatu-l-baraa'a (Nisfu-l-Sha'ban), try to take time between Maghrib and Isha to read Surah Ya Siin 3 times with the intention in the first of long healthy life, in the second for protection for yourself and your family from trouble and disaster and in the third for absence of need of anyone other than Allah.
Seek the help of Allah by steadfast patience and salat. This is difficult save for those who have khshua or humility.
Ali bin al-Hussayn (ra) made this du'a as Ramadan approached.
"Praise is due to Allah who guided us to praise Him and place us among the people of praise that we might be thankful for His Gifts and that He might reward us for that with the reward of those who excel in good deeds.
Praise belongs to Allah who showed us favour through His Din by singling us out for Iman (belief) and directed us on the roads of generosity in order that, through his kindness we might travel upon them and to His good pleasure - a praise which He will accept from us and through which He will be pleased with us.
Praise belongs to Allah Who made among those roads His month, the month of Ramadan - the month of fasting - the month of surrender - the month of purity - the month of testing - the month of standing in prayer."
The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said in his Khutbah at the end of the month of Sha'ban: "Truly the blessed month is ahead of you. A month of blessing, mercy and forgiveness. A month which with Allah is the best of months, its days the best of days, its nights the best of nights, its hours the best of hours. It is the month which invites you to be the guests of Allah and invites you to be one of those brought near. Each breath you take glorifies Him; your very sleep is worship, your deeds are accepted, your supplications are answered. Ask Allah, your Lord and mine, to give you a healthy body and an enlightened heart so you may be able to fast and recite his book for the only one who is unhappy is the one without forgiveness in this month.
Remember the hunger, thirst of the Qiyamah with your hunger and thirst (of Ramadan); give charity to the needy and the poor; honour your old people; show kindness to the young; maintain relationship with your kin; guard your tongue; close your eyes to the forbidden; close your ears to all slander and backbiting; show your care and compassion to the orphans.
Repent to Allah for all you have done wrong, raise your hands in supplication in these days that are coming for those are the best of days. Allah looks at his creatures with kindness and grants your needs. O people! Your soul is dependent on your deeds. Free it with istighfar; lighten its load with prostrations. Know Allah swears by His might that there is no punishment for the one who prays and prostrates and he shall have no fear of the fire on the day of Qiyamah. Oh people! Who gives iftar to a fasting person is like one who frees a slave and his past mistakes are forgiven.
We are now a little more than a week before Ramadan. Our Master Muhammad sallalahu alayhi wa sallam said, "Truly the month of Rajab is the Month of Allah, the month of Sha'ban is my Month and the month of Ramadan is the Month of the Community."
Now the 27th of Rajab the Night of Isra & Miraj has passed and last week, the night of Nisfu-sh-Sha'ban is passed, the Night of Forgiveness and Mercy, is now only a memory and the last precious days of Sha'ban are fading with their opportunity for fasting and salawat on the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wa sallam.
Aisha (ra) reported that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, "On the Day of Resurrection all the people will be hungry with the exception of the Prophets, their families and those who fast in Rajab, Sha'ban and Ramadan. Allah is the Lord of Sovereignty Whose Mercy is Abundant, Whose Grace is Vast and Whose Generosity is Endless. He pardons those who make tawba and repent. In these months His mercy and generosity overflow."
According to Hadith Qudsi, you may hear, if you listen carefully, a voice saying, "Are there none who love us that we may love them? Are there none who repent that we may forgive them? Are there none who seek Me that I may reveal Myself and show them My Beauty?"
Brothers and sisters, do not waste what is left of this month of Sha'ban. Make tawba. Since Sha'ban is also the month of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, also take the time left in these last days of Sha'ban to make salawat abundantly in accord with what Allah says, "Inna Allaha wa malaikatuhu yusalli alan Nabi. Ya ayyuhal-ladhina amanu sallu alayhi wa sallimu tasliman."
There are many darood you may find for this purpose as well as istighfar like "Astagfirullah 'alladhi laa ilaha huwa rahmanur rahimul-hayyul qayyum wa atubu ilayh."
Also try to fast at least one day more before Ramadan comes. Osama bin Zayd said, "Ya Rasul Allah, I see you fasting more in Sha'ban than any other month save Ramadan." Prophet sallalahu alayhis salam said, "Sha'ban is a month that is neglected by many. It is a month in which an account of the deeds of the people is presented before the Lord of the universe, so I wish my deeds will be presented while I am fasting.
Also, if you haven't already done so on the Laylatu-l-baraa'a (Nisfu-l-Sha'ban), try to take time between Maghrib and Isha to read Surah Ya Siin 3 times with the intention in the first of long healthy life, in the second for protection for yourself and your family from trouble and disaster and in the third for absence of need of anyone other than Allah.
Seek the help of Allah by steadfast patience and salat. This is difficult save for those who have khshua or humility.
Ali bin al-Hussayn (ra) made this du'a as Ramadan approached.
"Praise is due to Allah who guided us to praise Him and place us among the people of praise that we might be thankful for His Gifts and that He might reward us for that with the reward of those who excel in good deeds.
Praise belongs to Allah who showed us favour through His Din by singling us out for Iman (belief) and directed us on the roads of generosity in order that, through his kindness we might travel upon them and to His good pleasure - a praise which He will accept from us and through which He will be pleased with us.
Praise belongs to Allah Who made among those roads His month, the month of Ramadan - the month of fasting - the month of surrender - the month of purity - the month of testing - the month of standing in prayer."
The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said in his Khutbah at the end of the month of Sha'ban: "Truly the blessed month is ahead of you. A month of blessing, mercy and forgiveness. A month which with Allah is the best of months, its days the best of days, its nights the best of nights, its hours the best of hours. It is the month which invites you to be the guests of Allah and invites you to be one of those brought near. Each breath you take glorifies Him; your very sleep is worship, your deeds are accepted, your supplications are answered. Ask Allah, your Lord and mine, to give you a healthy body and an enlightened heart so you may be able to fast and recite his book for the only one who is unhappy is the one without forgiveness in this month.
Remember the hunger, thirst of the Qiyamah with your hunger and thirst (of Ramadan); give charity to the needy and the poor; honour your old people; show kindness to the young; maintain relationship with your kin; guard your tongue; close your eyes to the forbidden; close your ears to all slander and backbiting; show your care and compassion to the orphans.
Repent to Allah for all you have done wrong, raise your hands in supplication in these days that are coming for those are the best of days. Allah looks at his creatures with kindness and grants your needs. O people! Your soul is dependent on your deeds. Free it with istighfar; lighten its load with prostrations. Know Allah swears by His might that there is no punishment for the one who prays and prostrates and he shall have no fear of the fire on the day of Qiyamah. Oh people! Who gives iftar to a fasting person is like one who frees a slave and his past mistakes are forgiven.
~ from Summary notes of the Khutbah delivered by Shaykh Nooruddeen Durkee on 28th June, Friday, 2013 at Richmond, Virginia
You may download the Khutba (16 min) as mp3 audio (click) / m4a audio (click)
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