I praise Allah, Who has brought near to us the means of goodness and
has opened the gate of repentance to His slaves, and I send blessings
and peace upon the Messenger of Allah.
I have put together these few words for everyone who wants to change
his situation and his actions soas to earn the pleasure of his Creator
and achieve happiness in this world and in the Hereafter. I ask Allah
to make it of benefit to those who read it and tell others about it,
and I ask Allah to forgive sins both open and secret.
My dear brothers and sisters,
I congratulate you on the occasion of this blessed month, the month of
repentance, forgiveness and ransom from the Fire, the month of
goodness and blessing, the month ofgenerosity and kindness. I say to
myself, to you and to everyone who is falling short in his duties
towardshis Lord (this Arabic poem):
O you who did not have enough of sin in Rajab,
So he continued to disobey his Lord during the month of Sha'baan,
Now these two months have been followed by the month of patience,
So do not let this be a month of sin too.
Recite the Qur'aan and glorify your Lord during this month, striving
your utmost,
For it is the month of glorificationand Qur'aan.
The month of Ramadaan has come
So come to Allah, O seeker of good.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "When the
first night of Ramadaan comes, the devils and demons are chained up,
and the gates of Hell are closed and not one gate of it is opened. The
gates of Paradise are opened and not one gate of it is closed. And a
caller calls out: "O seeker of good, come to Allah; O seeker of evil,
desist." Allahwill have ransomed some people from the Fire, and that
happens every night." (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Maajah with a
hasan isnaad).
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that
theProphet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "Ameen,
ameen, ameen." It was said,"Messenger of Allah, you climbed up on the
minbar and said, "Ameen, ameen, ameen." He said, "Jibreel (peace be
upon him), cameto me and said, "Whoever witnesses the month of
Ramadaan and is not forgiven so he enters Hell, may Allah cast him
away. Say Ameen." So I said Ameen."" (This hadeeth was narrated by
Ahmad and is saheeh).
Yes! Ramadaan has come, so turn to your Lord Whom you have disobeyed,
beseeching Himand fearing Him, regretting and weeping,and say,
"O God of the Universe, I am returning (to You)."
"O Giver of all good things, give me guidance,
For there is no good without guidance.
Overlook my mistakes with forgiveness, kindness and mercy,
For no one else can bestow forgiveness." [Arabic poetry]
My brothers and sisters, if you are not forgiven, if your eyes do not
shed tears and your heart does not break before your Lordin this
month, then when?
My brothers and sisters, why do you not shed tearsfor fear of your
Lord even once? Do you not feel that your heart is close to your Lord
during this month? Do you not think that this is an opportunity for
you to draw closer to your Lord and increase in humility, repentance
and submission, so that it may be the true beginning of your returning
to your Lord so that you may be more closely connected with Allah?
"While as for those who accept guidance, He increases their guidance and
bestows on them their piety" [Muhammad 47:17]
O man!
Allah rebukes us and tells us (interpretation of the meaning):
"O man! What has made you careless about your Lord, the Most
Generous?" [al-Infitaar 82:6]
Indeed, O man, what has made you careless about your Lord, so that you
have become so audaciousin disobeying Him and transgressing His
limits? Is it because you are ignoring His blessings? Or because you
forget that Heis always watching over you, and that He is almighty?
"I am the one who closes the doors, striving in sin (in secret),
Although the eye of Allah is watching me.
How patient Allah is with me, when He lets me off
Although I persist in my sin, and He covers me." [Arabic poetry]
My brothers and sisters! Donot look at how small yoursin is, but look
at how great is the One Whom you are disobeying. My brothers and
sisters! Do not let Allah be the one whom you care the least about of
all those who are watching you.
Good news for you
Here I bring you good news from your Lord and His Messenger (peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him). Allah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
"Say: "O 'Ibaadi (My slaves)who have transgressed against themselves
(by committing evil deeds andsins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah,
verily, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most
Merciful" [al-Zumar 39:53]
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