Mufti Menk – Eidul Fitr Resolutions

			Salam Alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh
		

			commence by praising Allah subhanho wa Taala having given us a beautiful day of this nature, we
thank Allah subhanho wa Taala for having granted us the ability to fast during the month of Ramadan
for having allowed us to see the blessed month of Ramadan We ask Allah to make us from amongst those
who have earned forgiveness during this month and from amongst those who have turned their lives for
the better.
		

			We send blessings and salutations upon Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, we ask Allah subhanho
wa Taala to grant blessings to the entire family of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam all his
companions and we ask Allah to bless every single one of us. Brothers and sisters, Allah subhanho wa
Taala grants us
		

			occasions of happiness when we deserve it. It is important it is very important that we realize this
occasion of happiness and understand why is it that we have been given such a day.
		

			If you look at both of the leads, they happen to come after great acts of worship.
		

			Take a look at this particular issue. We have just fasted for the entire month of Ramadan. Every
single day we abstain from food and drink. So Allah says today it is prohibited for you to fast I
want to give you a day when you are not allowed to fast Not at all. A person would be totally sinful
if they had to fast on this day.
		

			And after having engaged in so much of voluntary Salah, voluntary Salah where every evening we came,
and every evening we engaged in prayer and we asked Allah subhanho wa Taala for goodness and at the
same time we listen to the beautiful words of Allah subhanho wa Taala We made an effort to read his
word, and we made an effort to understand His Word. And we tried our best to listen to the words of
Allah Subhana Allah to Allah. So Allah subhanho wa Taala blesses us with a day where we can enjoy
ourselves but we should never forget that Allah Subhana Allah to Allah, his word is not only for the
month of Ramadan, it is the word of Allah that will result in our peace in this world and the next,
		

			if we are to treat the Quran like a book that is only to be read in the month of Ramadan, we would
be losers. But in the month of Ramadan, it is almost imposed upon us, almost imposed upon us to read
the poor, and to make an extra effort to engage in interaction with the word of Allah subhanho wa
Taala to the degree that we taste the calmness, we taste the peace that we achieve from it such that
outside our mind, we would all be at a loss if we did not read the same poem. So this is why now
that we have tasted the sweetness of the word of Allah subhanho wa Taala
		

			It is very, very important for every one of us to know that if we would like the same sweetness
outside the month of Ramadan, we need to fulfill at least that Salah which is compulsory, and we
need to read the Word of Allah subhanho wa Taala make an effort to understand it and put it into
practice and teach it to others the least to our own children. May Allah subhanho wa Taala bless us,
a person who deserves he is a person who has made this type of an intention to say yeah, Allah, I
have engaged in acts of worship throughout Ramadan. But I'm not going to stop here. This is just a
day of happiness. I promise you my entire life will change Subhana Allah
		

			and I promise you my relation with your word and your Kalam, your book, The Quran, will will not
only have been for this particular month, but it's going to continue. So my brothers and sisters the
first resolution we make inshallah is we will not miss a single Salah
		

			by the word of Allah if we could read every night 20 Raka
		

			imagine that which is compulsory on a daily basis does not even reach 20 on a daily basis and it is
spread out throughout the day. Why is it that we cannot make a resolution here and now you're Allah
Salah I'm not going to miss and inshallah we will achieve a lot of peace. Allah has guaranteed that
a person who fulfills Allah will definitely be protected from evil and immorality in a solid
		

			In one
		

			cup, he establishes Salah Allah says definitely that Salah will prohibit from immorality and evil.
So it's important for us to make that promise to Allah. The second promise we make is that every one
of us will make an effort to read the Quran, we will try and improve the recitation of the Quran.
I'm sure we have all heard beautiful melodious recitals of the father who have led us inshallah to
Tantawi. It is up to us not only to say this was a powerful recital, what have you done my brother
or my sister to improve your own recitation? It's a very important resolution, even if you are
inching forward one inch at a time, improve your recitation and we need to know no matter what level
		

			you have got to, there will always be room for improvement. May Allah subhanho wa Taala grant us
goodness. So that is the second resolution, we are all going to make an effort to improve our
recitation of the Quran by the will of Allah. This is when we will taste the sweetness of e and our
lives will change. The third resolution every one of us needs to make sure that we make an effort to
understand what this word of Allah subhanho wa Taala is all about. Because Shama Ramadan is also
known as
		

			the month of the Quran. Allah subhanho wa Taala says, In
		

			FY 1918 Oh, Pato, we have indeed revealed the Koran. In this Night of Decree The Night of Decree,
tada, I'm sure we would know is one of the last of the odd nights of the last 10 nights of Ramadan.
		

			And we would also know that Allah says shahara Rama Bala, lady,
		

			oh z Laffy loco.
		

			It is in the month of Ramadan that this poem was revealed. And jabril and a Salatu. Salam used to
come every single year and listen to the recitation of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam after
reciting the Quran, how much was revealed up to that time was recited by both of them and modasa.
That means the two of them used to come in and study the Quran, the recital, this is when the order
was made clear and so on. So if this was the instruction of Allah Subhana Allah to Allah to his
Nabi, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam during the month of Ramadan. What about us? We have made an
effort, but many of us are guilty of not knowing the meanings of the basic sutras that we even read
		

			in Sunnah. And this is why sometimes we lack peace. We are not happy in our homes but the owner of
please one of his names is a Salaam we would know that the owner of peace, the peace, the one who
really owns every aspect of peace, His Word is in our midst, what have we done to try and understand
it, my brothers and sisters we make a resolution that we will make an effort on a daily basis to buy
the will of Allah subhanho wa Taala to try and understand even if it means a verse a day, may Allah
Subhana Allah Allah strengthen us and not make us from those who abandon the moron like Allah
Subhana Allah to Allah says, And so looking for can the complaint of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa
		

			sallam
		

			be in not only
		

			the messenger says, Oh Allah, my people have taken the spawn heedlessly, they have actually not
taking it seriously, they have abandoned it may or may not be from amongst those described there.
May Allah subhanho wa Taala. The next resolution that is extremely important to be made during an
occasion of this nature is just like we have listened to the Koran throughout the month of Ramadan.
And we have achieved so much inner peace and we have enjoyed the recitation, it is important for us
to replace all the forbidden CDs and discs and whatever else we have, whether it is in our motor
vehicles in our kitchens, in our lounges wherever else with net which is beneficial. So listening to
		

			the Quran is not confined and restricted to the month of Ramadan. If we are to replace the discs we
have in our motor vehicles with that of the Quran, that of the translation of the Quran as well or
that have, for example, some form of reminder of the message of the Quran. Allah how our lives can
turn. Many people millions, if not more, have already turned through such activity. Why should we
lose out? Why should we be from amongst those who have not achieved that goodness yet? So many
others have changed their lives? they've achieved so much happiness. You know, when the train is
moving. It's important for us to jump
		

			country as it stops in the station because it will begin to move once again we don't want to be from
amongst those who have lost out so today Mashallah we have our train that has paused that handler
there is a day no fasting and they have reflection they have happiness Mashallah everyone wearing
good clothing Mashallah smelling good Mashallah, this day Do not forget your promise to Allah Who
gave you this day who gave me this day, the same supreme being who gave me the day I need to please
Him, I need to make him happy. Imagine someone gives you something of goodness and happiness, and
then you are pleasing everyone but him it would be unfair. So Allah has given us this beautiful day.
		

			We promised that on a daily basis, even if it means just the 510 minutes that we are dashing to
work, but we have listened to something beautiful in our motor vehicles, rather than having songs of
the * and the naked across the globe. pulling us through the dirty lyrics towards the
disobedience of Allah subhanho wa Taala one law he for the sake of Allah for the sake of our maker,
we can replace that we can throw that away and we can do something that will result in the Baraka in
our own lives in our sustenance in our health in our children, and in everything we do and the
protection of Allah subhanho wa Taala when another resolution we make today, Allah subhanho wa Taala
		

			has asked us on the day of eat, and even on a Friday to dress with clothing that would be the best
that we do have all amongst the best that we have. However, we need to know
		

			my brothers and sisters, the ruling regarding clothing is such that Allah subhanho wa Taala has sent
down to us a framework outside which we are prohibited to go what this would mean is a day of this
nature we promise Allah that we will dress correctly. Whatever we do, we will make an effort to
dress appropriately. Although this may seem to apply to the sisters more the reality is it applies
to us as brothers as well. The new trends today around you find very tight clothing whether it is a
shirt or a trouser or a jeans, sometimes it is so tight and the main thing you know what I'm a man
so it's okay my brother it is not okay. Ideally you are not supposed to be wearing that which is
		

			tight fitting even as a male. So May Allah subhanahu wa taala open our doors May He grant us
goodness, it's a day like this. When Allah Subhana Allah Allah has asked us to dress with beautiful
clothing. That doesn't mean show that half of your body or it doesn't mean now we're something that
will earn the Wrath of Allah subhanho wa Taala No, it is important for us to know on a day of this
nature, we promise Allah Subhana Allah Allah Allah, I will ensure that I wear that which will not
displease you to say the least.
		

			And I promise you from today on I'm going to be more conscious of my clothing. The sisters sometimes
Mashallah when they are engaging in their salah and their autonomy and during the month of Ramadan
Mashallah, the cloaks come out meaning of the closets of the cupboards, the clothes come out and the
scarves come out and have done in beautiful clothing during the month of Ramadan, come the day of
eat, everything is packed again into the cupboards waiting for the next Ramadan. If that is the
case, we have achieved nothing big cell town liahona Allah Allah, Allah, what a curse nation who
only worship Allah through the month of Ramadan, the same Allah of today was the same Allah
		

			yesterday and will be And is he is the eternal May Allah subhanho wa Taala grant us goodness. And so
it is a very, very important resolution we must make today that Allah the clothing, I'm going to
improve by the will of Allah. And this applies, as we've said, the brothers as well as the sisters,
another resolution extremely important to be made. The matters that we have, between family members,
between community members that are outstanding, not yet resolved. It is important to us a day of
this nature, to at least make an effort to resolve misunderstandings and disputes.
		

			Now, hi Rafi, Kathy.
		

			In
		

			Islam,
		

			there is no goodness in the private meetings or in the silent discussions unless a person is
instructing goodness or is instructing charity or is resolving problems and matters between people.
So we hope to be from amongst one of those three where we are enjoying in good we are enjoying
charitable deeds, and at the same time we are striving to resolve matters and disputes between
members of the aroma of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam especially the reason his brothers and
sisters we tend to forget that we are part and parcel of the oma of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi
wasallam
		

			together and united, we have a great might, nobody would dare trample on us. But when we are
dispersed and disunited, then we are blown even by the lightest wind that Allah subhanho wa Taala
protects us. And it is very important also to make dua to achieve this because remember we can try
without the guidance and acceptance from Allah subhanho wa Taala we will not be able to achieve much
so May Allah Subhana Allah Allah use us to resolve matters and not to create disputes. May Allah
subhanho wa Taala bless So, a day of this nature, we will try our best to resolve the disputes
amongst family members and amongst others by the word of Allah subhanho wa Taala it is an occasion
		

			of happiness. If shavon becomes the happiest when two people are fighting, believe me, he becomes
the saddest when they are mending their disputes. This we need to know. And in order to resolve a
dispute, we need to have a big heart. We are not saying that you should allow people to trample all
over you and oppress you and you just continue going and seeking forgiveness. That is not a part of
justice that could be encouraging people to do bad but on equitable terms, we should by the word of
Allah subhanho wa Taala resolve matters. We ask Allah subhanho wa Taala to bless us another very
important resolution that every one of us needs to make on the day of D, we will improve our
		

			relationships with our children and our family members, our spouses, and all the others around us
those whom we live with, the way we speak to them shall improve, the way we treat them shall
improve. This is part and parcel of the gift of eat. What is the point of buying, for example, so
many gifts for your family members and children. But the way we use our mouths is so dirty that they
probably would feed let's return this gift. May Allah protect us? Yes. Sometimes the attitude we
have is so bad that they do not feel happy on an occasion of this nature. Yes, it is a day of
happiness. So it's important for us to resolve every one of us, myself included, very so MUCH to
		

			improve when it comes to our relationship with our own children. The amount of time we spend, the
language we use, it's important for us to improve it. Look at this. Allah says analyze describing
this particular day of when he took me
		

			to La da da como la la coo Tesco Cusco when Allah subhanho wa Taala is speaking about completing the
entire prescribed month of Ramadan and fasting and declaring the greatness of Allah not only by
town, but even by our actions. This verse is speaking of the technique, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.
		

			Allahu Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allah. Allah is the Greatest, there is none worthy of worship,
but Allah, Allah is indeed the greatest and we and all praises due to Allah subhanho wa Taala. So if
we are to declare that on a day like this, because of an instruction of Allah subhanho wa Taala, to
utilize the time
		

			to utilize the time to engage in the vicar or remembrance of Allah through this nature, it would be
wrong for us to miss that time with dirty words with swear words and so on. In fact, this goes to
show the verse goes to show that the best words are the words of praise of Allah subhanho wa Taala.
The best words are the words of praise of Allah subhanho wa Taala. So, on an occasion of this
nature, if we are instructed to make sure we praise Allah Subhana Allah to Allah, surely it is
because of how high in spirituality and in connection with Allah, these words are, it would be wrong
for us to then not resolve to continue using our tongues to praise Allah subhanho wa Taala
		

			the scholars of Islam have made mention of something very important. And this is something I can
take a lesson from, and so can every one of us. And that is when our tongues are occupied with that
which is futile, they will not be able to occupy themselves in that which is earning the pleasure of
Allah subhanho wa Taala. So if I'm a person who constantly swears, and who constantly lies, and who
constantly engages in deception, the chances of me engaging in the true remembrance of Allah
subhanho wa Taala are minimized, minimized and sometimes almost eradicated depending on the nature
of the abuse of the tongue. Allah subhanho wa Taala make us more conscious of our tongues very
		

			important.
		

			And one of the other resolutions that we should be making on this day is not only repentance to
Allah subhanho wa Taala and asking him to accept our deeds, but we should seek forgiveness from one
another where we have faltered and to seek forgiveness from one another where we have faltered. It
is important for us to know it's not just a mere SMS you send people to say make me laugh. No way.
		

			That's not how it works. It is not even a mere statement, brothers, forgive me for all that I've
done, describe what is going on. And if you have not described it to the person, no problem, make
sure in your heart, you have resolved that you're not going to repeat it, and you will try your best
to undo it. That is when you are genuine. But for us to pay lip service, like people of other faiths
do pay lip service to the term seeking forgiveness. And they just say, forgive me, I'm sorry, but
you're not sorry. Because if you will, sorry, your life would change, your attitude would change. So
many things would change. People tell their family members, I'm sorry. They tell their friends, I'm
		

			sorry. They tell others whom they might have hurt. I'm sorry, that statement is actually such a huge
statement that we are to be thinking very deeply about the effect of that word, in our relationship
from that day on. So every time you see this person, you need to tell yourself, I have already
apologized to them. I've changed my attitude towards them and so on. May Allah subhanho wa Taala.
Grant us goodness, we have sometimes made the issue of seeking forgiveness, something seasonal,
where you wait for no specious occasion, when it comes you send out an SMS bank SMS such that you
don't even know the recipients half the time. May Allah protect us. And people say who's that and
		

			they say this is who it is, and then you stretch it but who did I send it to me, Allah protect us?
This shows the insincerity. We've become people who want to seek forgiveness without really meaning
it. And if that's the case, how do we expect to earn the forgiveness of Allah? If we treat human
beings like that? Surely we will also say Allah, forgive me, forgive me, but at the back of your
head, you are still claiming the sin and you still want to commit it again. And again, that is not
one of the conditions of Toba or it is not acceptable because, as you know, the conditions of
repentance to Allah subhanho wa Taala. Firstly, we admit our faults, secondly, we regret it.
		

			Thirdly, we asked for forgiveness. And fourthly, we promised not to do it again, this is seeking the
forgiveness of Allah subhanho wa Taala. The same applies to seeking forgiveness with one another,
you have to admit your faults, you have to regret it, you have to ask the person forgiveness, and
you have to promise not to do it again. So we ask Allah Subhana Allah to Allah to open our doors and
to grant us goodness and ease. So my brothers and sisters,
		

			it's very important for us to realize a beautiful occasion of this nature, we've witnessed so many
of them. If I were to ask you, how many EADS Have you seen in your life, you would probably have
lost count, you might have to start thinking, calculating what's my age? When did I start and so on?
Have we really had an effect from the days of E that we've crossed through throughout our lives?
Let's think what is this day for? So today, I have tried to make mention of a few points where we
understand its greatness. And we make resolutions on the day of this nature to turn towards Allah to
improve our lives, the way we speak. In fact, so much so that we should be reaching out even further
		

			in our resolutions. Let me give you a few examples, a data of this nature, we resolved that From
this day on, I will make sure my income is totally and purely halon. Very important. So I will cut
out that which is sometimes people become overtaken by Chapin momentarily, temporarily way, because
there's a lucrative deal they do not consider whether it is within the pleasure of Allah or not. And
they quickly engage in the deal. They've made the money. And thereafter they realize on the day of
this nature, when they go back and reflect Yala, I've got this, I've got that. And how I did this
was not correct, y'all, I'm going to change this. And I From this day on, I will make sure whatever
		

			I earn will also be in your pleasure.
		

			Very important lesson we learned also from the month of Ramadan, reaching out to the poor. Sometimes
we become stingy with our own wealth, because we find that we forgotten the poor and the needy. And
we don't realize that at the time of Rasulullah, sallAllahu, alayhi wasallam. When they gave out,
they did not have in most cases what the average person from amongst us has. Look at the Sahaba of
the Lama and one who had knew nothing. Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, man months went by no
food in his home some Lola while he was on them. And yet, when they earned, for example, something,
they came and gave 50% of it towards the cause of Islam. Amazing how many of us would really how
		

			many of us would be able to save 50% of my assets going lilla for the sake of Allah subhanho wa
Taala. It's not so easy. So if you see a person who is a beggar, for example, who's got $10 in his
pocket, and he gives out $1 to another beggar, that would be 10% of what is worth. I don't think we
could do that. Because the more you have, the bigger the amount that although the percentage might
be the same, the bigger the amount, and this is why on
		

			one occasion, when a man came through, for his donation towards the cause of Allah and His
Messenger, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, it happened to be a measurement of dates, or in some
according to some narrations, half of the measurement of dates. And some people were sitting in
scoffing to see, look at this man, he's come in the law, * of an Indian, I'm sorry, Allah does
not need this measurement of this person. What is this all about? Is he just giving us a small
amount of things, and the messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam admonished them, and verses were
revealed, declaring that this act of laughing and scoffing at people who have given out such a huge
		

			percentage of what they've had, is actually unacceptable. So the same applies to us, we should be
giving, even if it is illegal, and when others have given whatever they've given, Do not laugh at
it, perhaps percentage wise, they've given much more than we could ever give. May Allah subhanho wa
Taala, protect us and grant us ease and goodness. So reaching out to the poor is something we
definitely learn from the month of Ramadan.
		

			Another resolution that we should be making is that we should improve our eating habits my brothers
and sisters, this I'm sure we would be interested in because many people are suffering health
problems, not because
		

			not because of some sophisticated reasons. Sometimes it's because of our own eating habits, which
are bad the timings of food imagine Allah says, you will eat at this time, and you will stop eating
from this time to this time you commence eating exactly at that time. Do you know that to delay you
if bar is mukou it is detested to unnecessarily say, you know what the time is six o'clock, we
supposed to be breaking fast. But I'm going to sit down 30 minutes past six that already renders
your fast macro, meaning it's detested. Because Allah says eat at this time, immediately at that
time, put something in your mouth. I think one of the lessons we learn is discipline in terms of
		

			food, set aside your meal times your body that is given to you is a gift of Allah, it is more
sophisticated than any computer system on the globe. So if you are to get used to a specific amount
of food, a specific type of food at specific times, you will have a much healthier life than he who
haphazardly eats or she who eats and one day you don't eat and another two days you eat and then for
a week you realize you're overweight. So now you don't want to eat and so on online he this type of
behavior, we should try and learn from the month of Ramadan to abstain from such behavior.
		

			Because even though it was the month where we were not eating with discipline in food is definitely
that sometimes the quality of the food we have is not of a nature that would be healthy for us in
those quantities. We ask Allah Subhana Allah to Allah to grant us goodness and ease. Like we say,
today is the day of eat. It is not the day of kebab of all the food you have not eaten. So let's
remember Mashallah we sample the food and Mashallah we enjoy it, we'll have a good meal by the will
of Allah Subhana Allah to Allah reach out to the poor. Remember those who passed away those perhaps
who are sick and Ill May Allah grant and cure and she found, but over and above all, that if our
		

			lives are not affected by such a beautiful day, we do not deserve the day. If our lives are not
changed by such a beautiful day, if we cannot make resolutions to get to get closer to Allah to
improve ourselves in every way, spiritually, physically, socially, in whatever other way, then do
you think we deserve such a beautiful day? May Allah subhanho wa Taala bless us and Goddess ease and
goodness, brothers and sisters, every eat, we speak on different aspects of that particular day of
eat, I hope and I pray what we've spoken about today can be relevant in our lives. Like I said,
we've been through some resolutions which we have to make, but there are so many more than you could
		

			make. Brothers and sisters, I want to end with one more resolution.
		

			We all might have some form of bad habits some of us It might be in the form of you know, the way we
talk some of us may be in the form of something much more serious brothers and sisters on the day of
this nature. It is up to us to declare that that bad habit is cut its own. It just requires
willpower. Many have even given up smoking by the will of Allah subhana wa Jalla just through
willpower they tell you today I stopped. So
		

			Allah Subhana Allah to Allah protect us I see people looking at me Mashallah Allah grant us goodness
is a make it easy for us. I've given a simple example. But that's not the only habit that people
would love to eradicate so many other habits. So let's search within ourselves for our own bad
habits. Never think I don't have any bad habit. Because even if it is of a very small nature, it
would still be there as a human being. It's an opportunity from Allah subhanho wa Taala for us to
improve. So whatever it is some like I say very, very serious. Some might
		

			hooked on drugs some alcohol some cannot stop gambling. It's a day like this when we repent to Allah
we change our lives sometimes it would require changing our company sometimes it would require us
changing the area we are living in because of the type of difficulty that we are involved in metals
are handled with Allah protect us And may Allah grant us ease and goodness inshallah, we will be
going around now a few minutes inshallah for a collection, and thereafter we will by the will of
Allah subhanho wa Taala straight in the rows for salat wa salam wa cinema Baraka