The sermon below is a comprehensive guide for Muslims in their
daily life. Please read carefully:
Sayyid Ibne Ta’oos narrated in his book “Iqbal”, quoting Imam Ali
al-Reza (a.s.), who heard from his father, who quoted from the Commander of the
Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.), who said: “One day, the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.)
delivered the following Sermon about the Holy month of Ramadan:
O’ People! The month of Allah with Blessing, Mercy and
Pardon has come to you, a month which is the best month among all months before
Allah; its days are the best days; its nights are the best nights and its hours
are the best hours. It is the month in which you have been invited by Allah for
a feast, and has been selected as the recipient of His special favor. Your
breathing merits the reward of praise while your sleeping in this month earns
the reward of worship. In this month, your deeds are accepted and prayers are
granted.
Therefore, with true intention and pure hearts, beseech Allah to
bestow upon you His special favor to be able to observe fasting and recite the
Glorious Qur’an. Because the most unfortunate and wretched one is the one who
remains deprived from Allah’s pardon during this great month. With your thirst
and hunger remind yourself about the thirst and hunger of the Day of Judgment;
pay charity to poor and destitute, pay respect to elders; be kind towards
youngsters, and observe the bonds of relationship with your kith and kin.
Watch your tongue, cover your eyes from seeing forbidden objects
and prevent your ears from hearing forbidden affairs. Be kind to the orphans of
the people so that the others are kind to your orphans. Repent for your sins
and at the time of prayer, raise your hands upwards, because these hours are
the best hours as Allah looks towards mankind with Mercy and Compassion. Their
hymns (reciting praise) are granted, their cries are heard. Whatever they ask
is bestowed upon them and their prayers are fulfilled.
O’ people your selves are mortgaged against your deeds and
therefore, by means of repentance make yourself free. Your back has become too
heavy due to sins; by prolongation of prostration make yourself light-burdened.
Know that Allah has taken the oath of His Majesty and Splendor that He will not
punish those who offer prayers and bow down in prostration and on the Day of
Judgment will not scare them from Hell Fire.
O’ people! Whoever in this month will plan for the fast-breaking
(iftar) for a believer, will be bestowed upon the reward equal to freeing of a
slave and all of his past sins shall be pardoned.” He was asked: “O Prophet of
Allah! But all of us are not able to arrange for the fast-breaking of a fast
observer.” The Prophet replied: ‘Protect yourself from the Hell Fire and offer
fast-breaking even if it happens to be a date with a glass of sherbet.”
“O’ people whoever makes his conduct better in this month, on the
Day of Judgment will be bestowed upon the permit for crossing over the “Siraat”.
Whoever opens the knots of difficulties of people’s affairs in this month,
Allah on the Day of Judgment will make the accounting of his deeds easier.
Whoever makes people immune from his mischief, Allah on the Day of
Judgment will make him immune from His Wrath. Whoever treats an orphan with
respect, on the Day of Judgment Allah will treat him with honor. Whoever takes
care to strengthen the family bonds with relatives, Allah will extend His
Blessings upon him on the Day of Judgment, and whoever will cut-off his family ties,
Allah too will deprive him from His Blessings on the Day of Judgment.
Whoever offers supererogatory prayers in this month, Allah will
register for his immunity from the Fire. Whoever performs an obligatory deed in
this month, will be bestowed the reward of seventy obligatory deeds performed
in other months. Whoever offers a lot of salutations (Salawat) upon me in this
month, on the Day of Judgment, Allah will make his balance of virtuous deeds
heavier. Whoever recites one single Ayah of the Glorious Qur’an this month will
be bestowed with the reward of finishing the entire Glorious Qur’an in other
months.
O’ people! The gates of Paradise are opened in this month; beseech
Allah that it should not be closed upon you. The doors of Hell are closed, and
ask Allah that they are not opened upon you. The devils are chained in this
month, ask Allah not to allow them to take over your control.
Imam Ali (a.s.) said: O’ Prophet of Allah, which one is the best
deed in this month? The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) replied: “O’ Abul Hasan! The
most supreme deed in this month is the piety and renunciation of the Divine
Forbidden Acts.”
Reference:
Etiquette of the Holy month of Ramadan by
Haj Mirza Javad Agha Maliki Tabrizi (r.a.)
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