Khutbah Recap
“Ramadan Ready”
March 18, 2022, Kanata Muslim Association
– Imagine if you won a shopping spree, 30 minutes to pick up whatever you wanted
– Imagine if the latest iPhone was available only for $350 (75% off), but only for 1 night
– Imagine if a developer offered new houses for half price, 800k house for 400k, but only if you wake up at 3 am
– Imagine if the government announced that home mortgages will be reduced by 70% but only in person, there’s too much demand and a very long lineup, you work out a system with your family so you have to line up only for 1.5 hours each night for a month
– Imagine if your employer increased overtime pay by 70 times for a month
– In all of these scenarios, the vast majority of people will be ready to do it without skipping a beat
– Not just ready, but excited…won’t be able to stop thinking about it, will plan it, will prepare to the best of their ability, will pray that they don’t do something to mess it up
– For our pious predecessors, Ramadan was much more exciting than all of these scenarios, deserving much more preparation and prayers for the opportunity to witness it and live it in the best way possible
– Our pious predecessors would make this du’aa, also reported from the Prophet ﷺ:
اللَّهُمَّ سَلِّمْنِي لِرَمَضَانَ، وَسَلِّمْ رَمَضَانَ لِي، وَتَسَلَّمْهُ مِنِّي مُتَقَبَّلًا
“O Allah! Safeguard me for the Month of Ramadan (by making me see the Month of Ramadan healthy and fit), and safeguard the Month of Ramadan for me (by making the conditions in it such that I can take maximum benefit from it) and accept it from me.”
– Ramadan is a blessed month in every way, every moment of it is immersed in blessings, blessed in its time, blessed in the actions done therein, blessed in terms of rewards, in it is the blessed night of Laylatul Qadr
– Most importantly, it is a gift from our Lord for this ummah
– Something that is actually needed for our spiritual well-being, but perhaps because it involves hardship, our Merciful Rubb has surrounded it with His love, mercy, forgiveness, blessings and increased rewards
– It was narrated from Talhah bin ‘Ubaidullah (RA) that two men from Balee came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. They had become Muslim together, but one of them used to strive harder than the other. The one who used to strive harder went out to fight and was martyred. The other one stayed for a year longer, then he passed away. Talhah said:
“I saw in a dream that I was at the gate of Paradise and I saw them (those two men). Someone came out of Jannah and admitted the one who had died last, then he came out and admitted the one who had been martyred. Then he came back to me and said: ‘Go back, for your time has not yet come.’” The next morning, Talhah told the people of that and they were amazed. News of that reached the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and they told him the story. He said: “Why are you so amazed at that?” They said: “O Messenger of Allah, the first one was the one who strove harder, then he was martyred, but the other one was admitted to Paradise before him. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“ أَلَيْسَ قَدْ مَكَثَ هَذَا بَعْدَهُ سَنَةً ” . قَالُوا بَلَى . قَالَ ” وَأَدْرَكَ رَمَضَانَ فَصَامَهُ وَصَلَّى كَذَا وَكَذَا مِنْ سَجْدَةٍ فِي السَّنَةِ ” . قَالُوا بَلَى قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ” فَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا أَبْعَدُ مِمَّا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالأَرْضِ ” .
“Did he not stay behind for a year?” They said: “Yes.” He said: “And did not Ramadan come and he fasted, and he offered such and such prayers during that year?” They said: “Yes.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The difference between them is greater than the difference between heaven and earth.” (Reported by Ibn Majah)
– Important to prepare to maximize benefit, so we don’t lose out, end Ramadan as a loser without being forgiven, without gaining good deeds and rewards
– While preparing some decorations to excite our children is fine, that’s not exactly the type of preparation I’m referring to
– From a practical point of view, here are some suggested action items:
Physical – Space out meals: The first fast of the month wil begin at 5.16 end at 7.35 pm in Ottawa. It’s a good idea to get prepared by having earlier breakfasts, lighter lunches and later dinners, prepare body.
Seek medical advice: Fasting is obligatory, but not at the expense of one’s health. Schedule a check-up and consult a doctor (ideally a Muslim who understands the importance of fasting) and find out if there is a strong possibility that fasting and not taking medications – especially for long hours – will be damaging to your health. If so, ask an imam or scholar what you should do.
Adjust your schedule: Your sleep schedule will be shaken and your energy level will fluctuate during the day. Plan your work hours and holidays in advance, so you can maintain a good balance between work performance and worship performance. Prayers in masjid? Vacation? Shorter work days? We will be offering Isha at 9.10 pm first week.
Cut the addictions: Do you find it difficult to get through your day without smoking or chugging down a few cups of coffee or tea? This is the time to start weaning off the addictions.
Get organized: Physical energy and brainpower will be at a premium in Ramadan. Plan meals, prepare Ramadan and Eid grocery lists, organize your closets, pick out your Eid clothes, figure out your finances and anything else that you know you’ll have to deal with and that will get in the way of a smooth Ramadan.
Plan Activities: family, taraweeh, iftar, lectures, arts and crafts for kids, etc.
– Most important – spiritual preparedness:
Become regular in prayers, extra prayers, improve quality of prayers, reconnect relations/clean heart; pay attention to halal/haram food, drink, clothing, wealth as it affects dua; start phasing out spiritual pollution — media, music, movies – non-beneficial things
Reconnect with the Qur’an:
(Al-Baqarah 185) شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـٰتٍ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ
“Ramadan is the month in which was sent down the Qur’an as a guide to mankind, also clear (signs) for guidance and judgement (between right and wrong). “
– Ramadan is the month of the Qur’an, a time when its recitation and listening is more meritorious. You don’t want to suffer from withdrawal once you increase your Qur’an intake.
– Start phasing out music and less beneficial readings/audio/video, and start making more time for the Qur’an – listening, reciting with meaning, tafseer. Enjoy!
– Remember, for the believer, the benefits and rewards of Ramadan is more valuable than any worldy items, possessions or benefits one can possibly attain, so plan accordingly
– May Allah make us among those who are blessed with witnessing ramadan once again; not just witnessing, but make us those who are well prepared; those who derive max benefit from it, grant us purified hearts, and a Ramadan of love and acceptance
