Mufti Menk – Ramadhan is Here

			salaam aleikum wa rahmatullah wa barakato.
		

			smilla rahmanir rahim al hamdu Lillahi Rabbil alameen wa sallahu wa salam ala nabina Muhammad wa ala
alihi wa sahbihi wa.
		

			We praise Allah Subhana Allah to Allah we send blessings and salutations upon Muhammad sallallahu
alayhi wa sallam. And we ask Allah Subhana Allah to Allah to bless his entire household, and every
single one of them, the companions of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and may we be all
blessed my brothers and sisters in Islam. As you all know, we are at the door of the month of
Ramadan. And as you all know, we will all be fasting and we will be engaging in lots of recitation
of the Quran and we will be engaging in lots of extra voluntary prayer at night. And we all would
like to increase our good deeds during the month of Ramadan because we know of the multiplication of
		

			these good deeds during this beautiful month. My brothers and sisters what is important is for us to
bear in mind that a certain condition is necessary for us to be able to have these acts of worship
accepted by Allah subhanho wa Taala. And the primary condition is that we need to be sincere, we do
things for the sake of Allah subhanho wa Taala. If we do an act of worship, we should do it in order
to please Allah subhanho wa Taala if we do it for the pleasure of Allah subhanho wa Taala, we will
be able to achieve much more, and we will be able to have our deeds benefit us the day we meet with
Allah subhanho wa Taala. In order for that to happen, we need to have a clean heart, the heart needs
		

			to be cleansed. And sometimes this heart happens to be unclean because of the feelings we have
against one another as Muslims.
		

			So I want to invite you prior to the beautiful month of Ramadan, to take a moment to look at your
heart and to ask yourself, How do I feel regarding my fellow Muslims, my brothers and sisters and
humankind at large? Is my heart upon a good condition? Do I have the love for my fellow Muslims that
I am supposed to have? Have I tried to solve and resolve the matters and disputes that I may have
within my family within my community within those who perhaps mixed with me as a person in my
business or workplace and so on? If not, I suggest very strongly that we do something about it. It
is about time we sorted our matters. My brothers and sisters, we want to enter the month of Ramadan
		

			with the pleasure of Allah and we want to exit the month of Ramadan later on with the happiness of
Allah subhanho wa Taala How will that be possible when we have not sorted out our own matters? If
you take a look at the The Night of Decree that is a very powerful night in the month of Ramadan. It
is known as laylatul padam. Do you know that there was a time when the knowledge of this light was
being sent down to Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam specifically, so he was going to be told
exactly what night it is. But because there were two people who are arguing and disputing, at that
particular moment, the angel was instructed by Allah subhanho wa Taala to withhold the knowledge of
		

			that particular night and the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam told us that because of the
disputes of these people, now the knowledge of this night has been kept by Allah subhanho wa Taala
you need to search for it in the last 10 nights, the odd nights from amongst them. So, this shows us
that sometimes when we are disputing amongst one another, it causes a lot of spiritual loss, it
causes loss in terms of the link with Allah subhanho wa Taala Why should we let that happen? It is
about time we looked into our hearts and we cleanse them for the sake of Allah we remove any hatred
that we have, we remove any of from it jealousy that we have. Some people become jealous of others
		

			because they have a high position. Some people become jealous of others because of their wealth or
their family members or any form of success that Allah has given them. Do not be jealous my brothers
and sisters of one another. It causes a big problem. The Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa
sallam has said in the Casa de como hacer la Kamata coolum narrow
		

			indeed jealousy will eat away at your other good deeds in the same way that the fuel eats away at a
dry mob. So just like you have a dry firewood, and the fuel would eat it very fast. If we have
jealousy in our hearts, the other deeds that we have done in terms of goodness, they will be eaten
away in that particular condition. May Allah subhanho wa Taala safeguard every single one of us from
this, my brothers and sisters a beautiful month of Ramadan
		

			We should be getting up early and we should be having something to eat just before the commencement
of the meal. And this is a tsunami of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. He says in support
and support meaning, the initial pre fasting light meal that we have, he says there is Baraka in it,
there is blessings in that food. So even if you get up to have a little bit, there is greater
blessing in that than to remain asleep and get up for Salah confession.
		

			as Muslims in the month of Ramadan, it's important that we get up before Salah before the time of
fudger and have even if it means a little bit of water, even if it means a few dates or some light
meal, because there is Baraka in it. Remember, when we have a heavy meal very early, we will become
hungry very quick as well. Because this digestive system works in a way that it begins to digest the
food and if there is a lot of food, it requires more energy. And so much happens by the time midday
comes you are already very hungry. So that is why when we have this initial pre fasting meal, make
sure that it is a light meal for Baraka purposes for purposes of fulfilling the sooner among
		

			sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. Thereafter, we should enjoy the fast. And let us abstain from saying
during the fasting that you know I'm very hungry. This fast is very hard. It is very hot and humid
in Malaysia and so on. abstain from that enjoy the fast for the sake of Allah, I say Allah, at least
you have allowed us, you have allowed us to break the fast every day, when I was a little bit
younger. We used to speak to some of the people and say we fast for one month. And the non Muslims
used to think that means for one whole month we don't eat. And they said well in two or three days
you will be dead. And we start thinking to ourselves, well do you know what is going to happen here?
		

			The truth is you and I know the gift of Allah it is from dawn to dusk. That's all from pre sun
sunrise, pre sunrise meaning the time of fudger right up to the time of mothering that is not too
much still you have all night to eat. But remember another point, when we are opening our fast at
the end of the day, open it with the name of Allah subhanho wa Taala make a prayer because that is a
time of acceptance of your prayers. So if you have your needs that Allah has kept you with, it is
important that you spend a moment
		

			to say Oh Allah helped me help the Muslims across the globe. Those who don't have food at all, I
have food but I have abstained from it for your sake. Let me reach out to those who have nothing
become charitable. The Hadith of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. It is reported that he was
a very generous person, extremely generous, but he was even more generous in the month of Ramadan.
When gibreel Allah He Salam used to come to him and they used to recite the Quran together. So he
was so generous that the Hadith says it is like a wind that blows when you have a strong wind that
blows, every one of us will feel the wind, although it is one wind, some kind of Allah. So the
		

			generosity of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam in Ramadan was like the wind. Everyone used to
see it. I want to draw your attention to generosity in Oman. generosity is with your character, your
conduct, do not allow your temper to overtake you in this month. Some people are hungry. So when
they are hungry, they get angry English saying is a hungry man is an angry man. But that is not a
saying in Islam. We are supposed to restrain ourselves. This is why the hadith of Muhammad
sallallahu alayhi wa sallam he says, this month has come to you a beautiful month, where the heads
of the devils you know, the Shia team that the chiefs of the devils are actually tied up. The doors
		

			of * are closed, the doors of heaven are wide open, and the caller is calling out to say, oh you
who wants to do good, come forward. And oh, you intense evil, control yourself, restrain yourself,
throw it back. So when we want to get angry in the afternoon with our spouses, with our colleagues,
with anyone else, control yourself in a way that you will be able to have a good deed in return or
as a result. If I really want to get upset and I control myself, that's a good deed. I'm earning a
free reward. Nobody can see nobody can notice. But I know I was feeling like I really want to say
something but I held back. Allah says you held back you get to reward especially when you are
		

			fasting you get a bigger reward. So be generous with your character by inquiring about people by
saying good words to your family members by spending a little bit of time with your children. Take
time to teach them some goodness in the month of Ramadan. They will be Baraka in it. This is how we
welcome the beautiful month. You want to do good come home
		

			Come forward, your good deeds are multiplied. If a person is engaging in evil or bad, it is going to
be something that will be very dangerous because in the same way that goodness is multiplied in the
month of Ramadan. The evil that is done in this blessed month knowing its sanctity, is really
playing a game with Allah subhanho wa Taala. We don't want to do that. You know, Allah says
		

			moutoku indeed those who sanctify the sanctuaries of Allah subhanho wa Taala. It is a sign of the
piety of the heart as a sign of taqwa the feeling of Allah. When Allah declares a certain place as
being a sacred place, you must consider it sacred. If a person commits a sin in Malaysia, it is a
sin. But if a person commits the same sin in Makkah, it is multiplied, because Mecca is a sacred
place. But if someone says, Look, I will not commit this sin, we are in Mecca. How dare you do this?
It shows that they have respect for something that Allah has granted sacred distance. I'm not saying
that we should be engaging in sin far away from Makkah, but I'm just giving you an example. The same
		

			applies if a person wants to engage in sin during Ramadan, once they are fasting, they are playing a
game. They are daring Allah because Allah says this is the month of multiplying your good. This is
the month month of engaging in extra acts of worship. And we are saying Okay, I'm going to engage in
sin as well in this month, May Allah not do that to us may we be saved. This is why my brothers and
sisters the night in the month of Ramadan is not for the clubbing and it is not for enjoying and
passing time doing things that are few times and committing sin in the left and the right direction.
No.
		

			The night in the month of Ramadan is known to be a night to live and up here. That means to make
your night alive, alive by doing what read your Quran engage in taraweeh. Dharavi is long it is
lengthy, but it is known as something that will give the true believers raha raha means calmness or
should I say that rest that they need? That is tarawih. So let us engage in taraweeh with a good
heart by when we say Allahu Akbar, we forget everything else. We are plugged in with Allah subhanho
wa Taala I really hope and I pray that we can have this month of Ramadan with the difference. We are
so lucky and fortunate to be speaking this Friday on this beautiful topic of welcoming Ramadan. And
		

			I am giving you a few hints and tips from what we've learned as muslimeen over the years from
Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam to engage in in this month of Ramadan. Also what is important
my brothers and sisters, try your best to go through the meanings of the Quran in this month because
the month is known as the month of the Quran, as well. Shahada, Ramadan and levy.
		

			I'm sure we know this verse, it is
		

			the month of Ramadan in which Allah has revealed the Quran as a guidance for men. So it is important
for us all to ensure that we go through the meanings of this beautiful Quran that Allah subhanho wa
Taala can grant us at least the reward of going through His Word and His book. Also remember, the
recitation is of utmost importance A lot of us we need to improve the pronunciation of the Arabic
language recitation of the Quran. Use this beautiful month of Ramadan to improve this recitation by
the help of Allah subhanho wa Taala. Because if we don't do it in this month, when will we do it? So
improve your recitation, recite melodiously sit with those who know and try and learn from them,
		

			your reward will be multiplied give much importance to the foreign.
		

			As I said a few moments ago important to also spend time with your family members. It is important
to take time with your children to show them the value of Ramadan. Ramadan is a month where we
should be showing that we are together as a family unit. This is a responsibility for Allah, Allah
subhanho wa Taala for us, so that when we die, our generations will know that Ramadan, this is how
you should spend it. I'm sure with us who are seated here and those who are listening. I am very,
very sure that we know how our fathers and forefathers and family members used to spend the month of
Ramadan. So we are so happy and so fortunate that we can also spend it in fact in an improved way.
		

			May Allah subhanho wa Taala grant us everything
		

			My goodness during this beautiful month of Ramadan. Another important issue when we are praying for
ourselves in Ramadan asking Allah to open the doors of goodness for us, it is very important to ask
for goodness for others as well. Do not be selfish. They are people who are struggling across the
globe for so many reasons, some for political reasons, some there are being attacked for no reason
whatsoever. They don't even know why they are being attacked, some are homeless, some do not have
food, some do not have clothing, think of them, at least pray for them. If you cannot reach out with
a small donation into the boxes, the minimum is to pray for them. So do not be selfish when it comes
		

			to praying where we only pray for ourselves. Allah give me give me give me and we forget everyone
else may Allah subhanho wa Taala help us all to reach out to others in a beautiful way at least that
our prayers can reach them and at least that their prayers perhaps would reach us May Allah subhanho
wa Taala really and truly make this month very easy for us all. And may Allah subhanho wa Taala
grant us goodness throughout this blessed month of Ramadan. Also, a very interesting point is my
brothers and sisters when we stay away from food during the day. It does not mean that at night we
need to now do a bar for what we missed during the day. Some people think that you missed the food
		

			during the day so at night you must eat double. That is wrong. That is something that is a very big
mistake. Some people that they have eat they eat so much that they get sick. It is important for us
to know this month of Ramadan generally cut down on your food, eat light, you will feel very
healthy, you will detox your system and that is something that is needed. So much so that I know of
non believers who fast as well because they say it is very healthy. What about us we are believers
we believe in Allah subhanho wa Taala encourage the young and the old to fast and let's try sha
Allah to do it in a way that we think Allah we please Allah subhanho wa Taala
		

			if you look at the Sunnah of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, he concentrated more on Allah.
		

			Allah Sodom means the two black things. What are the two black things one is referring to water.
Water is colorless. Obviously if you have something black behind it, it looks black. And the dates
the dates are also known as the last word which means something black, it is known as Dan. He used
to concentrate on these two things a lot, sometimes even outside Ramadan. So we believe that part of
the sooner of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam his food was water and dates. If you have some
dates partake of them, they are very high in iron, they are very high in fiber and they have lots of
nutritious nutritions in them very nutritious food and water is extremely important because in
		

			Ramadan, we would become dehydrated very quickly if we do not drink enough water. So throughout the
night, perhaps you can sip your water as you are closing the fast early morning, you can actually
have a glass of water or the name of Allah subhanho wa Taala and when we open the fast also we can
partake in from that particular water. May Allah subhanho wa Taala bless as brothers and sisters,
these are just some of the beautiful pointers to remind you of the first point I started with, let
us cleanse the hearts, the heart needs to be clean, remove enmity that you have against one another,
solve your family problems go out of your way to say sorry, even when you are not wrong if that is
		

			what is going to solve the problem because Allah will right next to your name. Sometimes we are not
wrong, but we have a dispute the brother is being stubborn, you will go out and say look my brother,
I'm sorry. It's okay no problem. You are my brother. Let me hug you. I don't have time, really and I
don't have space in my heart for this enmity. And it actually makes you sick, it makes you
unhealthy. It gives you a burden on your shoulder. So we ask Allah subhanho wa Taala to open up our
hearts and to make us from those who can realize and understand the value of this beautiful month of
Ramadan because it is only the value of this beautiful month of Ramadan that will be in our hearts
		

			such that we will be able to inshallah benefit from it. May Allah subhanho wa Taala benefit us from
these few words I end with this and I hope that we've all been of inshallah attentive ears and not
only that, but we will be able to practice some that is preached or sallallahu wasallam or Baraka,
Allah Nabina Muhammad