By Sheikh Abdul Hamid Lachporia
Alhamdulillahi wa kafaa, was-Salatu was-salamu
`alaa `ibaadihi-lladheena Stafaa”
“Oo see kum Ibad’allah Bi Taqwa’llah”
Wa Ba’d:
Alal Muslimeena Jami’ah! The social life of Islam is characterized during these Mubarak months by cooperation in goodness and piety. The months of Rajab, Sha’ban and Ramadan are marked with full recognition of the individual and his or her sacred rights to life, property and honour. It is also marked with an effective role played by the individual in the domain of caring, sharing and social morals and ethics. In an Islamic society the individual cannot be indifferent. He or she is enjoined to play an active part in the establishment of sound social morals by way of inviting the good and combating the evil in any form with all lawful means possible.
During these most Mubarak months – including all the other months of the year, we learn that we cannot and must never afford to be indifferent, exclusive or arrogant. It is our solemn duty to open our hearts and minds to all the realities of life and stretch out our arms to all people of whatever class, creed, race, or nationality. The good which we can do and the services that we can render will Insha’Allah only materialize when we put Islam into practice and associate with others in a kind, humane spirit of Islam.
Let us all take full advantage of the Blessings during these Mubarak months by distributing our Zakat among the rightful beneficiaries in order to fulfill this most important major pillar of Islam correctly and sincerely so that Almighty Allah Rabbul Ala’meen will be pleased with us. Our golden opportunity during these most wonderful months is to come to the realization that to worship Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala is to know Him; to love Him; to obey His Commandments; to enforce His Law in every aspect of life; to serve His Cause by doing the right and shunning the evil; and to be just to Him, to ourselves, and to our fellow human beings.
To worship Almighty Allah Tabaraqa Wata’ala is to “live” life, not to run away from it. In brief, to worship our Most Exalted Creator during these Mubarak months and every other month of the year – 365 days every year, is to imbue ourselves with His Supreme Attributes. The Most Noble and Holy Qur’an quotes the prayer of Nabee Sulayman Alayhis Salaam in verse 19 of Surahtul An Naml:
“O my Rabb! So order me that I may be grateful for Thy favours, which
Thou has bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may work
the righteousness that will please Thee; and admit me, by Thy
Grace to the ranks of Thy Righteous Servants”.
Our Beloved Nabee Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam said: “Rajab is the month for planting, the month of Sha’bān is the month of irrigating, and the month of Ramadān is the month of harvesting. The likeness of the month of Rajab is that of the wind, the likeness of Sha’bān is that of the clouds and the likeness of Ramadān is that of the rain; whoever does not plant and sow in Rajab, and does not irrigate in Sha’bān, how can he or she reap in Ramadan?
The month of Rajab prepares us for devotion and doing good deeds because we come to the realization that a true Muh’min does not build his or her hopes on the vanities of this material world, but on Almighty Allah’s Grace and Mercy. Such a person is “endued with understanding” and receives Allah’s Message with fervour and alacrity. The message of Shaban is for us to understand Almighty Allah’s Message and to expand our spiritual understanding and to receive Allah’s Light, so that we may travel farther and farther during Ramadan in order to reach our Goal in the Path of Truth and Righteousness.
The great blessing of these most wonderful months is our invitation towards the remembrance of Almighty Allah Rabbul Ala’meen, humility, and an inner relationship with Him. The months of Rajab, Sha’ban and Ramadan will teach us and will Insha’Allah exhort us to combat evil, aggression and corruption and to a constant struggle during the remaining months of the year against egotism, selfishness, and the pursuit of carnal desires. Islam today is the only remedy and angel of deliverance and this call echoes today as it did fourteen centuries ago as we learn from Surahtul Al Ma’idah: verses 15 & 16.
“Indeed, there has come to you a Light and a clear Book from Allah;
with it Allah guides whoever will follow His Pleasure on the Paths
of Peace and brings them out of manifold darkness into Light by
His Will and guides them to the Straight Path.”
Ma’a sheral Muslimeen! What is remarkable about the Most Holy and Noble Qur’an is that it deals with human transactions in such a way as to give them a Divine flavour and a moral touch. It makes the presence of Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala felt in every transaction and acknowledges Him as the first source of guidance and the ultimate goal of all our transactions. It is humanity’s spiritual guide, his system of law, his code of ethics, and, above all, his way of life.
Man is merely a trustee in the vast domain of Almighty Allah Azza Wajjal, and the sole purpose of his creation is to worship none other but Almighty Allah. Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala has no desire to overburden His servants with obligations and rituals that are beyond their human ability and scope. The efforts they are required to exert are those which are necessary but bearable and within their capabilities in order for them to gain knowledge, understanding, and experience, and achieve progress in life.
A Muh’min’s life is controlled by his or her fear of Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala and the promise of His Mercy and Compassion. These are the two strong forces guiding true believers in this Doonya and preparing them to account before their Most Glorious Creator sooner or later in the Aghirah. Almighty Allah informs us in Surahtul Ha Mim verse 17:
“As to the Thamud, We gave them guidance, but they
preferred blindness (of heart) to Guidance:
So the stunning punishment of humiliation
seized them, because of what they earned.”
The greatest and most irrevocable covenant humankind has made with Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala is to uphold His absolute Oneness. Those who insist on the belief in the existence of other gods beside the One Creator are drifting rudderless in the high seas, with no hope of rescue or redemption. All followers of Divinely revealed religions are assumed to affirm belief in monotheism.
Certain religions claim a special relationship with God and assume for themselves a privileged and unique status in the world order. But in fact, Almighty Allah’s favour and grace may be earned only through sincere, unadulterated, and unshakable faith and real tangible actions to back up that faith. Almighty Allah Azza Wajjal comforts those who believe as we learn from verses 55 & 56 of Surahtul Al Ma’idah:
“Your allies are Allah, His Messenger and other Believers who
observe prayer and give alms in humility. Those who ally themselves
with Allah, His Messenger, and the Believers are of the party of
Allah that are sure to triumph.”
Ummatal Qur’an! Nothing else can, in the sight of Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala, give people, whether individuals or groups, any particular advantage over others. This applies just as much to Muslims, who have to show the same required degree of humility and submission to Almighty Allah Rabbul Ala’meen, and show the courage and fortitude necessary to uphold His Laws and teachings and face up to His enemies and detractors.
Mere verbal identification with Islam or the teachings of our Beloved Nabee Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam is no substitute for real action and tangible endeavour. To avoid the fate of earlier generations, Muslims are urged to ensure that their relationship with Almighty Allah is always at its best, and that they should shun the idea of resorting to anyone else other than Him Alone for help or support; Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala Who has the most excellent names so call on Him by these names – verse 180 Surahtul Al A’raf:
“The Most Beautiful Names belong to Allah: So call on Him
by them; but shun such men as use profanity in His Names
For what they do, they will soon be requited.”
Our Beloved Nabee Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam said:
“Rajab is a month of seeking Forgiveness, so seek Forgiveness from
Almighty Allah Subhanahoo Wata’ala; He is verily the Forgiver,
and He is Most Beneficent and Most Merciful.”
It is highly recommended to repeat
“Astaghfirullaah wa as-aluhut Tawbah”.
Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala is the most Perfect, most Glorious, most Self-Sufficient. When we are lost we call on Him to guide us back to the Right Path; when we are in the dark we call on Him for light; when we are in need we call on Him for help and support. The foremost characteristic of the Ummah is its pure monotheism and its total devotion to the ONE Creator and Sustainer of the heavens and the earth – Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala. This, my dear brothers and sisters in Islam, is not only the message of Rajab, Sha’ban and Ramadan, but the message to remember every day of the year for the rest of our lives!
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 welcome to use and share
my Khutbah’s for propagation purposes without my prior consent.
جَزَاكُمُ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا
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