A Sha’baan Message from the Heart

By Sheikh Abdul Hamid Lachporia

 

“Al-Hamdu Lillahi Rabbil ‘Aalameen was Salatu was
Salaamu ‘alaa Ashrafil Anbiyaa’e wal Mursaleen”. 
 
Wa Ba’d:
                                                   “Oo see kum Ibad’Allah Bi Taqwa’llah”
“Allahumma Bariek Lana fie Rajab
wa Sha’baan wa Baliegna Ramadan

Beloved People of Imaan! Faith is a force that is greater than knowledge or power or skill. And the darkest defeat turns to triumph if we trust in Almighty Allah’s Wisdom and Will. For Faith is a mover of mountains. There is nothing man cannot achieve if he has the courage to try it and then has the Faith to believe as we learn from verse 136 of Surahtul Al Baqara:

“But righteous is he who believes in Allah and the Last Dayand the Angels and the Scriptures and the Prophets”.

The above verse is the statement of Faith of a Muslim. There are no complicated theological involutions to go through, no necessity to have some kind of degree in esoteric knowledge. A simple soul can grasp it immediately. A Faith that is summed up so simply and directly has immediate and straightforward appeal to the ordinary person, for no reason other than that it is simple and direct. We are reminded in verse 3 of Surahtul Al Ahzab:

 “And put thy trust in Allah, for Allah is sufficient as a Trustee”.

We must place our complete trust in Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala for He Alone is the true and efficient Guardian of all interests. Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. Just know, when you truly want success, you’ll never give up on it. No matter how bad the situation may get place your complete trust in Almighty Allah Rabbul Ala’meen. Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is Almighty Allah Who will assist you to get you where you want to go, no one else. It’s hard to wait around for something you know might never happen; but its harder to give up when you know its everything you want.

Alhumdulillah! With complete faith in Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala you will not fear to stand for what you believe in, even if that means standing alone. Life is short so live it to it’s fullest. Love is rare so hold on to it. Anger is bad, so refrain from it. Fear none but Almighty Allah.  Memories are sweet so cherish it. Life is like photography. You need the negatives to develop. Build your own dreams, or someone else will hire you to build theirs.  Imaan and self-confidence is the most attractive quality a person can have.

O you who believe! How can anyone see how awesome you are if you can’t see it yourself?  Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. Love what you have. Need what you want. Accept what you receive. Spend and give freely of what you can to the destitute, the orphan and those in need.  Always remember, Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala is watching over you. Do not ever forget – what goes around, comes around for Almighty Allah reminds us in verse in verse 156 of Surahtul Al A’raf:

“Therefore I shall ordain it for those who ward off (evil) and pay the 
poor due, and those who believe in the  Revelations of their Rabb”.

Ya Ibad’Allah! The Mubarak months of Rajab, Sha’baan and Ramadan help to remind us that it is the love of Almighty Allah Azza Wajjal that unblocks the coldness, the bitterness, and the ache of bereavement, the pain of loneliness and rejection, the resentment of our ill treatment by others. Maybe life is given to us specifically so that we can learn how to believe, love Almighty Allah, and love our fellow human beings and treat them with love, understanding and compassion. The beloved Nabee Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam said: (Sahih Muslim).

 “You cannot believe until you love one another”.

 In another Hadith he said: (Abu Dawud).
“If you show mercy to those who are on earth, 
   He Who is in heaven will show mercy to you”.

Ummatul Muslimeen! Even though you may want to move forward in your life, you may have one foot on the brakes. In order to be free, we must learn how to let go. Release the hurt. Release the fear. Refuse to entertain your old pain. The energy it takes to hang onto the past is holding you back from a new life. What is it you would let go of today? Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall behind you. Do not pray for an easy life, pray to Almighty Allah Tabaraqa Wata’ala for the strength to endure a difficult one for He is Gafooroor Raheem and remember His Promise in verse 157 of Surahtul Al Baqara:

 “Such are they on whom are blessings and Mercy from their Rabb.”

To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart. Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are. The past is behind, learn from it. The future is ahead, prepare for it. The present is here, live it. Be grateful, trust in Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala, be smart, be clean, be true, be humble and be prayerful for we are reminded in verse 33 of Surahtul Ha Mim:

“Who is better in speech than the one who calls men to Allah, 
works righteousness, and says, I am of those who bow in Islam”.

Brothers & Sisters in Islam! Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others, even to the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore, be at peace with Almighty Allah Azza Wajjal, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a most beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy and say Shukran, and Alhumdulillah for all of Almighty Allah’s Blessings.
May I share with you a formula that in my judgment will help you and help me to journey well through mortality? First, fill your mind with truth and with the love of Almighty Allah and His Beloved Rasool Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam; second, fill your life with truth; and third, fill your heart with love. Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.
Never tell your problems to anyone…20% don’t care and the other 80% are glad you have them. Don’t count the days, make the days count. Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, leave the rest to Almighty Allah Rabbul Ala’meen. It is the love of Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala that unblocks the coldness, the bitterness, the ache of bereavement, the pain of loneliness and rejection, the resentment of our ill treatment by others.
Life is given to us specifically so that we can learn how to believe, how to love Almighty Allah, and how to love our fellow human beings and treat them with kindness and compassion. Our Beloved Nabee SAllallahoo Alayhi Wasallam said: “You cannot believe until you love one another”. (Sahih Muslim). In another Hadith he said: “Almighty Allah has mercy on those who are merciful. If you show mercy to those on earth, He Who is in heaven will show mercy to you”. (Abu Dawud).
There are those who bewail their lot in life and complain that life on this Doonya is like being flung into the midst of a complicated technical situation without any manual or map to find one’s way or to cope with it, or control it. For a Muslim there is no such confusion or lack of direction; it seems so obvious that Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala will never leave His beloved servants in such terrible uncertainty for His Promise has been made crystal clear in verse 156 of Surahtul Al A’raf:

“And My Mercy embraces all things, therefore I shall
ordain it for those who ward off (evil) and pay the Zakat
and those who believe in Our Revelations”.

Alhumdulillah! Today you’re here and nothing you do will change that. Today you are alive and here and honored and blessed with good fortune. Look at this sunset, isn’t it beautiful? This sunset exists. Tomorrow does not exist. There is only now. Please look. It is so beautiful and it will never happen ever again, never in all infinity. Lose yourself in it, make yourself one with nature and do not worry because you must remember that Almighty Allah Tabaraqa Wata’ala loves you.

Difficult circumstances or traumatic events are meant to test our real mettle, bringing out the best in us by challenging our conscience and energies. Sabr (patience) in the face of difficulties and hardships, and gratitude in the case of good fortune, is good for a person because, at the end of it, he or she is promised a great reward and an eternal abode of sublime serenity and joy – Jannah. Our Beloved Nabee Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam said: “Allah’s merchandise is dear. Allah’s merchandise is Jannah” (Tirmidhi). Only through striving in the Cause of Allah Alone can one achieve this purpose of success for Allah declares in verses 155 & 156 of Surahtul Al Baqara:

“Allah has purchased of the believers their persons and
their goods; for theirs (in return) is the Garden of Paradise”.

The moment of realization that maybe it is real is where submission to Almighty Allah begins. It is not the end of the story by any means, but only the beginning. What follows from that is a lifetime of becoming familiar with the landmarks of the blessed Path to which we have been guided, and then following it to the best of our ability after making our leap of faith. And so we come full circle back to the Shahada, the Declaration of Faith:

 “La illaha Illalahu Muhammadur Rasooloollah”
“There is no god except Almighty Allah, and Nabee
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah”.

Beloved people of Imaan! In conclusion be at peace with yourself during the most Mubarak months of Rajab, Sha’baan and Ramadan and throughout the year and remember that memories tie you to the past and that imagination points you to the future. May Almighty Allah bestow His Peace and Blessings upon you and all those with you and around you during the Mubarak month of Sha’baan and keep us alive to welcome the Glorious month of Ramadan.

“O Almighty Allah! Embellish us with the decoration of Imaan and grant that we may be rightly guided as well as to be a source of guidance to others. O Allah! We beseech Thee for Forgiveness of our sins and O Allah! Open the Gates of Thy Mercy for us and facilitate for us the earning of our livelihood. O Allah! Throw us far apart from our sins even as East is separated from West; Forgive all our sins, whether light or grievous, whether first or last and whether open or secret. Ameen! Thummah Ameen Ya Rabbul Ala’meen.

And this, beloved Ummah of Islam, is a Sha’baan Message from the heart.

                                                     “Allahumma Bariek Lana fie Rajab
wa Sha’baan wa Baliegna Ramadan”

And Almighty Allah knows best.

And Peace be upon those who follow the Guidance.

The Truth is from Almighty Allah. The errors are all mine and

I stand to be corrected.

Baarak Allaahu Feekum wa-sal-Allaahu wa-Sallam ‘alaa
Nabiyyinaa Muhammad Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam.

 
Was Salamualaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu
Abdul Hamid Lachporia
 
Please be advised that you are more that welcomed to use and share
my Khutbah’s for propagational purposes without my prior consent. 
 

 
جَزَاكُمُ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا