OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
Bismillahir Rahnaanir Raheem
(In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)
THE BLESSED MONTH OF RAMADHAAN
Assalamu ‘alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu.
All praise is only due to Allah, the Lord of the universe, may peace and blessings of Allah be on His last noble Messenger, Muhammad (s.a.w.), his relatives, his companions and on all those who follow the path of righteousness until the last day. Almighty Allah said:
“O you who believe! Observing As-sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (pious, God fearing).” (Qur’aan, 2:183)
It was in the second year of the Hijrah when Fating was first decreed by Allah (s.w.t.) as a mandatory form of worship. The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (s.a.w.) had fasted nine months of Ramadhaan before he passed away. To start fasting in the month of Ramadhaan, there are two important things to observe:
1. The sighting of the crescent. Allah (s.w.t.) says, “So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadhaan), he must observe sawm (fast) that month.” (Qur’aan, 2:185)
In this regard, the Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “Observe fast on sighting the moon (crescent of Ramadhaan) and terminate it on sighting the moon (crescent of Shawwal). However, if it is cloudy then complete the month of Sha’ban to thirty (30)days.”
2. All Muslim must welcome this blessed month of Ramadhaan joyfully and gratefully, while praising and thanking Allah (s.w.t.) and with full readiness and a sincere intention to practice all forms of worship during this blessed month of Ramadhaan. As Muslim we must look forward spending the days of the month fasting (from dawn to sunset) and reciting Qur’aan and performing the evening prayers, supplicating and invoking Allah (dhikr). The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “The month of Ramadhaan has come about. It is a month of blessings that Allah (s.w.t.) has decreed to be mandatory upon you to fast its days. In it, the gates of Heavens are opened, the gates of Hell are closed; and the devils are chained. In it, there is a night that is better than a thousand months. Whoever is deprived from its goodness is indisputably deprived.”
May the Almighty Allah forgive all our sins, grant us the goodness and benefits of the month and bestow upon us the virtues of the blessed night, insha Allah wa amen.
Shahro Ramadhaan Al-Mubarak. Shukran.
Sources:
Selected Friday Sermons
Summarized Sahih Al-Bukhari