Reminders About the Arrival of Ramadaan from Sermons at al-Masjid al-Haraam

[🔊 Audio]

إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ، نَحْمَدُهُ، وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ، وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ

Indeed, all praise is due to Allaah. We praise Him, seek His assistance, and ask His forgiveness.

وَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا، وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا

We seek refuge with Allaah from the evils of our own souls and the evil consequences of our actions.

مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ، وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ

If Allaah guides someone, none can lead that person astray; and if Allaah leaves someone to stray, none can guide that person.

وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah alone, without any partner, and I testify that Muhammad is Allaah’s worshipping servant and Messenger.

((يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ))

((People of eemaan, observe taqwaa of Allaah as He rightfully deserves [by fulfilling His commands and avoiding His prohibitions], and do not die except submitting to Allaah in Islaam)).

((يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاءً

((Mankind, observe taqwaa of your Lord who created you from a single person, and from him created his spouse, and then spread from the two of them multitudes of men and women.

وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءَلُونَ بِهِ وَالْأَرْحَامَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا))

Observe taqwaa of Allaah by whom you make requests of one another, and do not sever ties of kinship. Indeed, Allaah is always watchful over you)).

((يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا . يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ

((People of eemaan, observe taqwaa of Allaah and speak words that are correct. If you do so, Allaah will set your deeds in order for you, and He will forgive your sins.

وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا))

And when a person obeys Allaah and His Messenger, he will certainly achieve the greatest success)).

أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنَّ أَصْدَقَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ، وَأَحْسَنَ الْهَدْيِ هَدْيُ مُحَمَّدٍ

As for what follows: indeed, the best speech is the Book of Allaah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam / may Allaah grant him commendation and protection).

وَشَرَّ الْأُمُورِ مُحْدَثَاتُهَا، وَكُلَّ مُحْدَثَةٍ بِدْعَةٌ، وَكُلَّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ، وَكُلَّ ضَلَالَةٍ فِي النَّارِ

The worst things are those which are invented and then claimed to be part of Islaam. All such inventions are regarded as bid‘ah, all bid‘ah is misguidance, and all misguidance will end up in the hellfire.\{1}

During the past days and nights, our souls had yearned – and our tongues had uttered prayers both audibly and silently – for our Lord to let us reach this month. It is a month in which He has placed blessings and mercy that no other month has. It is the month of the Qur’aan which separates truth from falsehood. It is the month of the gate to Jannah called ar-Rayyaan. It is the month when the masaajid are illuminated. It is the month of thikr and praise of Allaah. It is the month of repentance and diligent devotion to Allaah. The sweet aroma of this month wafts towards us bearing glad tidings for those who will be engaged in fasting, prayer, and giving charity. It is the sweet fragrance of the blessed month of Ramadaan. It is the fragrance which brings delight to souls that have become ill due to sins committed in private as well as shortcomings towards Allaah in the open. It is the fragrance that overpowers other aromas of insensitivity, laziness, selfishness, and callousness. Allaah said, ((The month of Ramadaan is the one during which the Qur’aan was sent down. It was sent to direct all people to the truth, and it contains clear proofs of Allaah’s guidance and the criterion that distinguishes right from wrong)) [2:185]. The month does not fail to come at the time Allaah fixed for it, but there are individuals who fail to embark upon that month along with the righteous. Those righteous people refrain from what breaks their fast as well as from backbiting, tale-carrying to instigate problems, lying, arrogance, and selfishness. In contrast to the righteous, there are others who may not get anything from fasting beyond hunger and thirst. During this month, the righteous humbly stand before their Lord in prayer, reciting His aayaat during the night, bowing down to Him, glorifying Him, and remaining constantly devoted to Him.\{2}

Ahead of you, there are nights and days of immense virtue, and Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) used to herald their arrival. In the Musnad of al-Imaam Ahmad, there is an authentic hadeeth in which Aboo Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) narrated that Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) would convey glad tidings to his Companions by saying, “Ramadaan has come to you. It is a month of immense goodness. Allaah made it obligatory for you to fast its days. During it, the gates of Jannah are opened, the gates of the hellfire are shut, and the shayaateen are shackled. It contains a night which is more virtuous than one thousand months; and if a person is deprived of its goodness, he has certainly suffered an immeasurable loss.”

Ibn Rajab (may Allaah have mercy upon him) commented that this hadeeth is a basis for people conveying glad tidings to each other as it relates to Ramadaan. It would only be fitting to convey glad tidings to any person of eemaan that the gates of Jannah will be opened, it would only be fitting to convey glad tidings to any sinful individual that the gates of the hellfire will be shut, and it would only be fitting to convey glad tidings to any discerning person that the shayaateen will be shackled. What other time resembles an occasion such as this?! [End of remark from ibn Rajab. See Lataa’if al-Ma‘aarif p. 203].\{3}

Time continues to elapse. One day concludes and a new one succeeds it. Each day, there are some who do much and others who do little, some who are diligent and others who are negligent. Each day, a person either does what absolves his soul of blame, or contributes to it being punished. The fortunate person is the one who knows what various times are truly worth and, thus, diligently takes advantage of them without any negligence. The times Allaah has made virtuous are priceless opportunities to attain immense blessings. They are times which provide Allaah’s servants with a path that leads them to Him. Those who strive in earnest will be successful in being guided to that path, whereas those who remain lazy will certainly not attain such success. As people continue to strive, time continues to elapse and it will never return. When someone misses a given chance at any point in time, that chance will not come back for him again. What has passed is gone, what one hopes for is not guaranteed, and all a person has is the present in which he finds himself. Therefore, if you desire good, draw near; and if you desire evil, hold back.

People’s hearts are affected by various factors that lead to wear and tear, just like other things in general. This can lead the heart to become rusty or dry just as various other substances around us. Our hearts are the most important things which need to be supplied with what rejuvenates them, removes their rust, refreshes them after they grow dry, and allows them to flourish once more. The soul can grow heedless as days go by and it becomes preoccupied by many matters which tend to accumulate. That state can distract the soul from keeping clear of harm, let alone actually harnessing its full potential and working towards development.

However, this month that has now come can provide us with the best solution. It is a month of righteous deeds, prayer, fasting, mercy, and compassion. It is a month of restraining desires, and urging the soul to do what is correct. It is a month to rid the soul of the false idea that it does everything right, since that mindset is one which obstructs a person from seizing the opportunity before him. It is a month to wean the soul away from being preoccupied with a plethora of permissible matters which end up distracting an individual from acts of worship and, thus, make him a prisoner to his own inclinations, laziness, and complacency. This is a month for doing one’s utmost to fulfil Allaah’s commands and avoid His prohibitions. That is what taqwaa is, and no one can do without attaining more of it by devoting himself to complying with Allaah’s directives during this month of Ramadaan.

There may be instances where our properties and families lead us to be diverted from cleaning our hearts in preparation for filling them with the goodness of this month. There are hearts which have grown hard and they need to learn what mercy is from Ramadaan. There are properties which have run dry and they need to seek the means for them to increase and be purified during Ramadaan. There are mouths which are harsh and they need to learn decent and wholesome speech from Ramadaan. There are bodies which are lazy and they need to attain strength and willpower from Ramadaan. For anyone who seeks the channels to attain taqwaa, this month contains the complete array of them. Allaah said, ((People of eemaan, fasting was prescribed for you, just as it was prescribed for those before you, in order for you to observe taqwaa)) [2:183].

An individual who cares about his religious practice certainly feels great pain when he sees that there are many people during this month who chart their course in a way that is based on habits and customs, not worship of Allaah. They go about things without recognizing that this blessed month is one in which souls are to be harnessed properly so as to draw as near as possible to Allaah’s religion. This month should remind them of the rights they must fulfil towards Allaah, the Most Exalted. It is a time in which the atmosphere is permeated with gatherings of eemaan, and clear manifestations of worship, righteous deeds, and recitation of the Qur’aan. The servants of Allaah who do those things are the ones who prepare themselves as necessary in order for change to take place within their souls. Allaah said, ((Allaah does not change the state of a people unless they change what is in themselves)) [13:11]. During this month of blessings, there are many who sense the dire need they have for Allaah’s Book. They realize they need it just like water and air. They realize that without it, their lives would be in disarray and Allaah would change their harmony to animosity, their unity to division, their safety to fear, and their order to chaos. A Muslim without the Qur’aan in Ramadaan is like someone who wants to live without air or water. However, the connection some people who fast have with the Book of their Lord can be quite superficial and it does not go beyond babbling away some of its words without any comprehension of what they are saying. Their concern is reaching the end of the soorah and, in fact, they fall under the description Allaah gave when He said, ((Among them are unlettered people who have no knowledge about the scripture. Rather, they have false statements which they presumed were part of it)) [2:78]. This implies that all they knew were words which did not pass their throats and reach their hearts. On top of that, there are people who may even be so engrossed with the melody and articulation of the recitation that they are distracted from reading simply and contemplating.

Aboo ‘Amr ad-Daanee, one of the leading classical scholars of tafseer and modes of reciting the Qur’aan, commented that tajweed does not mean chewing up the tongue, opening the mouth wide, shifting the jaw out of place, echoing the voice, elongating the shaddah, chopping the madd, intoning the ghunnah, or distorting pronunciation of the letter raa’. People’s very nature turns away from recitation with such features, and their hearts and ears do not accept it. Rather, recitation is that which is simple, pleasing, sweet, and soft. [End of remark from Aboo ‘Amr ad-Daanee. See an-Nashr fil-Qiraa’aat al-‘Ashr, by ibn al-Jazaree 1/213].

The month of Ramadaan is an incredible opportunity for an individual to purify his soul by fasting in the day, so that he can prepare himself to contemplate the meanings of the Qur’aan in the night. The hours of the night are more conducive to focus while reciting. This is because fasting in the day is like purging the detrimental while reciting the Qur’aan at night is like replenishing the advantageous. Allaah, the Most Majestic and Exalted, said, ((Indeed, rising by night to pray has a stronger impact upon the heart and is most suitable for understanding Allaah’s words)) [73:6].\{4}

This month of Ramadaan is an opportunity that our Lord has given all Muslims to fill their lives with obedience to Him. It is a time when our tongues are occupied with reading the Qur’aan, and our souls rejoice with following the teachings of fasting and with the light that emanates from praying at night. This month has come to awaken goodness in people that may have become dormant, and to inhibit tendencies to regress and commit sins. It has come to sharpen our sense of generosity, extending kindness, and spreading happiness. It provides souls with cure from ailments stemming from the materialism of this world. During Ramadaan, ears are attentive, eyes are tearful, souls are humble, and hearts are penitent. Chances to have deeds accepted are many, goodness flows profusely, and the rebelliously disobedient to Allaah are shackled.

Aboo Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) narrated that Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) said, “When the first night of Ramadaan comes, the shayaateen and rebellious jinns are chained, the gates of the hellfire are shut tightly without any remaining open, the gates of Jannah are opened wide without any remaining shut, and a caller proclaims, ‘If you desire goodness, draw near; and if you desire evil, hold back’.” This was collected by at-Tirmithee and ibn Maajah with a saheeh chain of narration. Therefore, ensure that you receive this month well by repenting sincerely and by staying away from lowly things. Receive this month with a spirit of taqwaa and genuine repentance. Delaying those things contravenes sound guidance. Repent to your Lord since sins are a catastrophe that has dealt a fatal blow to entire peoples.

Fasting shields a Muslim against sins, guards him from being tarnished, and protects him from the hellfire. Therefore, in order to keep your fasting intact, you must put the reins of sound intellect upon your limbs, and keep them under the watch of taqwaa and obedience to Allaah. The Prophet (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) said, “Fasting is a shield by which a person protects himself from the hellfire.” This hadeeth is authentic and was collected by al-Imaam Ahmad. This cannot come about without restraining the limbs from major sins; restraining the tongue from indecent words and disparaging others; restraining the eyes from looking at what is prohibited; restraining the feet from going to harmful places; extending hands of generosity; withholding harm from others; and remaining humble towards Allaah with hearts that are fearful, pure, sincere, penitent, and devoted in worship to Him alone. Furthermore, what recompense could await someone who acts in the aforementioned ways besides the highest of ranks in Jannah? Immense reward certainly awaits those who fast, and stand in prayer. I say to all who fast: You refraining from food might make you hungry and fatigued. However, you should keep in mind the glad tidings of reward, mercy, and benevolence in which you will rejoice on the Day of Resurrection.

The Prophet (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) said, “Many who fast may gain nothing except hunger and thirst, and many who stand to pray at night may gain nothing except staying up late.” This hadeeth is authentic and was collected by ibn Maajah and an-Nasaa’ee.

Al-Imaam ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy upon him) commented that fasting serves as restraint for people of taqwaa, protection for those who struggle, and training for those who are obedient to Allaah and nearest to Him. Out of all deeds, fasting is the one especially for Allaah. It is something private between a servant and his Lord which no one else knows about. [End of remark from ibn al-Qayyim. See Zaad al-Ma‘aad 2/27].

Al-Imaam al-Kamaal ibn al-Humaam (may Allaah have mercy upon him) commented that fasting inhibits the part of the soul that urges a person to do wrong, and diminishes its influence upon all of a person’s limbs. [End of remark from ibn al-Humaam. See Fath al-Qadeer 2/300]^.

The month of Ramadaan is the one during which the Qur’aan was sent down. In Ramadaan, Jibreel used to review the Qur’aan with the Prophet (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection). Shaykh al-Islaam ibn Taymiyyah (may Allaah have mercy upon him) commented that if a person contemplates the Qur’aan while seeking guidance, the correct path will become clear to him. [End of remark from ibn Taymiyyah. See Majmoo‘ al-Fataawaa 3/137]. Therefore, contemplate the Qur’aan if you desire guidance. True knowledge lies in contemplation of the Qur’aan.

These blessed days are a prime opportunity for an individual to take stock of himself and strive to ensure that his deeds please Allaah. This month contains profound lessons as it relates to being foremost in performing righteous deeds. We must hasten to attain the favours Allaah grants us before our souls depart, and we must make this month one in which we take initiative. I urge all of us to pardon, overlook, reconcile, uphold ties of kinship, preserve our time, take care of our hearts, and actualize the objectives of fasting in our words and actions. Ramadaan is an opportunity to truly feel the noble aims that Islaam’s teachings seek to make reality. Immense reward certainly awaits those who fast, and stand in prayer. This is a month of fulfilling responsibilities, preserving the sacred, and observing taqwaa. Success during it will be attained by those who genuinely seek acceptance from Allaah. Tremendous rewards await any servant of Allaah who fasts throughout it in the prescribed manner and continues to call upon Allaah in the early and latter parts of each day. Thus, be grateful to your Lord for letting you reach this blessed month, and bear in mind that completion of being grateful to Him comes about by extending kindness to others, helping the needy, and facilitating matters for Allaah’s worshipping servants in general.\{5}

The month of Ramadaan is one of fasting, prayer, benevolence, striving to worship Allaah in the best way, and devoting attention to the Qur’aan. It is a month in which various virtuous deeds come together. An authentic hadeeth mentions that fasting and the Qur’aan will intercede for a person on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say, “My Lord, I prevented him from food and desire during the day, so I implore You to allow me to intercede for him.” The Qur’aan will say, “My Lord, I prevented him from sleep during the night, so I implore You to allow me to intercede for him.”

Additionally, in the Two Saheeh collections, the Prophet (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) said, “If a person fasts Ramadaan out of his eemaan and hope in Allaah’s reward, his prior sins would be forgiven”, “If a person stands to pray in Ramadaan out of his eemaan and hope in Allaah’s reward, his prior sins would be forgiven”, and “If a person stands to pray on Laylatul-Qadr out of his eemaan and hope in Allaah’s reward, his prior sins would be forgiven”.

Furthermore, Allaah grants an exclusive reward for fasting. In Saheeh al-Bukhaaree, the Prophet (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) stated, “The reward for every righteous deed a person performs is multiplied. A righteous deed can be multiplied from ten to seven hundred times. However, Allaah – the Almighty and Most Majestic – said, ‘Except for fasting. It is for Me and I shall give due reward for it. My servant forsakes his desires and food for My sake’.”

During Ramadaan, there are supplications a fasting person makes which are not rejected, and there are many opportunities throughout it for prayers to be answered. Therefore, strive to make much du‘aa’ throughout Ramadaan. In the aayaat of the Qur’aan about fasting, Allaah mentioned that He is near His servants and that He responds to them. He told His Messenger (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection), ((If My servants ask you about Me, tell them I am most certainly near. I respond to the du‘aa’ of those who call upon Me whenever they do so. Thus, they must respond to My call and have eemaan in Me so as to attain guidance)) [2:186].

There are many ways to earn rewards in Ramadaan. Giving a person even just a date to break his fast merits a reward equal to that of the person who fasted, without diminishing his reward in any way. The most virtuous charity is the one that is given in Ramadaan; thus, if one fears the Day of Reckoning, he should give in order to feed the needy and to fulfil the needs of widows and orphans.

The month of Ramadaan is one of the most prominent occasions of observing taqwaa (protecting oneself from Allaah’s punishment). Fasting itself is a shield that protects a person from the impermissible. Allaah mentioned taqwaa in the first of the aayaat about fasting. He also concluded them by mentioning taqwaa. Observing taqwaa is the best provision one can have and the best attire one can adorn himself with. When someone observes taqwaa, Allaah will give him a way out of every difficulty and provide for him from where he never anticipated. When someone observes taqwaa, Allaah pardons his sins and grants him an immense reward. When someone observes taqwaa, Allaah will grant him ease in all matters. Not only that, Allaah stated that He is with those who observe taqwaa. He also stated that He loves such people. Qataadah (may Allaah have mercy upon him) commented that when a person observes taqwaa, Allaah would be with him; and when Allaah is with someone, that person has with him support that cannot be overcome, a guard who never sleeps, and a guide who never strays. [End of remark from Qataadah].

The people of taqwaa are the uppermost in the end and at the beginning as well. Allaah said, ((As for the abode of the hereafter, We will grant it to those who do not arrogantly seek prominence in the land and do not spread corruption; and the best final outcome is for the people of taqwaa)) [28:83]. Taqwaa is what enables one to attain everlasting happiness in the abode of Jannah whose expanses are like that of the heavens and the Earth. It has been prepared for the people of taqwaa and it contains what no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard, and no human mind has ever conceived. ((Indeed, the obedient worshipping servants of Allaah will not have reason to feel any fear or sorrow. They are people who had eemaan and continually observed taqwaa. They shall receive glad tidings in this world and in the hereafter. The words of Allaah will not be altered. That is the supreme success)) [10:62-64].

The month of Ramadaan is a time to please Allaah, the Most Merciful; be steadfast in following in His path; and prepare to meet Him in the hereafter. Today is for performing deeds without being taken to account, while tomorrow will be for accountability and no further chance will remain to perform deeds. Therefore, prepare your provisions and remember that the best provision is taqwaa. ((People of eemaan, fasting was prescribed for you, just as it was prescribed for those before you, in order for you to observe taqwaa)) [2:183].

Dear people of eemaan, among the objectives of fasting are: training the soul to obey Allaah, and purifying the soul by keeping it away from sins. When fasting, a Muslim is to refrain from certain things which are permissible by default, and he is obviously also to refrain from what is impermissible by default. Fasting does not merely mean refraining from food. The month of fasting ahead of us is an occasion that produces eemaan and righteous deeds. “If someone does not abandon false statements and deeds, Allaah does not need him to leave his food and drink.”

In addition, our Prophet (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) was most generous and giving during Ramadaan. In the Two Saheeh collections, ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with both of them) narrated that the Prophet (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) was the most generous of people, and his generosity reached its peak during Ramadaan when Jibreel would meet him. Every night of Ramadaan, Jibreel would meet him and review the Qur’aan with him. Thus, the Messenger of Allaah (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) would become more generous than the freely blowing wind in its encompassing nature.

Reading the Qur’aan is a distinguishing feature of Ramadaan, and there is nothing more beneficial for the heart than reading the Qur’aan with contemplation. Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy upon him) commented that doing so produces all praiseworthy traits by which the heart attains life and completion. It also inhibits all blameworthy traits and actions which corrupt and destroy the heart. If people only knew what truly lies in reading the Qur’aan with contemplation, they would occupy themselves with that rather than do anything else. [End of remark from ibn al-Qayyim. See Miftaah Daar as-Sa‘aadah 1/535].

An authentic hadeeth in the Musnad of al-Imaam Ahmad mentions that the Prophet (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) prayed one night by repeating a single aayah in each rak‘ah all the way until dawn. It was the statement of Allaah, ((If You punish them out of Your justice, they are indeed Your servants. However, if You forgive those who deserve to be forgiven, You are certainly the Almighty, the Most Wise)) [5:118].

Additionally, al-Qaasim ibn Muhammad – the nephew of ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) – narrated that he once went to her in the morning and she was standing in prayer, reading the statement of Allaah regarding the residents of Jannah, ((They will say, ‘Prior to the current time – while we were still among our families during our lives in the world we have now left behind – we were fearful of Allaah’s torment on the Day of Resurrection. Thus, Allaah granted us His favour and saved us from being punished in the extreme heat of the hellfire. Prior to the current time, we certainly used to invoke Allaah alone. He is indeed the Most Kind, the Bestower of mercy.”)) [52:26-28]. ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) was repeating it, supplicating, and weeping. Al-Qaasim said, “I stood until I became tired of waiting, so I went to the marketplace to get what I needed. Then, when I returned, she was still standing in prayer, repeating the same aayaat, and weeping.”

Our dear brothers and sisters who are devoted to Allaah, days of tremendous virtue have arrived. Therefore, do your utmost to perform righteous deeds, fill your time with what draws you nearer to Allaah, prepare your provisions of obedience to Allaah, perform your deeds sincerely for Allaah alone, and do all you can to follow the teachings of your Messenger.\{6}

We will conclude this session by supplicating Allaah using a du‘aa’ that was used by the Prophet (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection). In an authentic hadeeth, ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with both of them) narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) would rarely stand to leave a gathering until he said the following supplication for his Companions:

اللَّهُمَّ اقْسِمْ لَنَا مِنْ خَشْيَتِكَ مَا يَحُولُ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ مَعَاصِيكَ

O Allaah, grant us a share of reverential fear of You which restrains us from disobeying You.

وَمِنْ طَاعَتِكَ مَا تُبَلِّغُنَا بِهِ جَنَّتَكَ

Grant us a share of obedience to You by which You allow us to reach the abode of Jannah that You have prepared for Your obedient servants.

وَمِنَ اليَقِينِ مَا تُهَوِّنُ بِهِ عَلَيْنَا مُصِيبَاتِ الدُّنْيَا

Grant us a share of certainty which alleviates for us the adversities of this world.

وَمَتِّعْنَا بِأَسْمَاعِنَا وَأَبْصَارِنَا وَقُوَّتِنَا مَا أَحْيَيْتَنَا وَاجْعَلْهُ الوَارِثَ مِنَّا

Bless us to benefit from our hearing, sight, and strength throughout the life You grant us, and allow that blessing to continue and remain all the way until we leave this world.

وَاجْعَلْ ثَأْرَنَا عَلَى مَنْ ظَلَمَنَا

Enable us to regain our rights from those who have wronged us.

وَانْصُرْنَا عَلَى مَنْ عَادَانَا

Assist us against those who are hostile towards us.

وَلَا تَجْعَلْ مُصِيبَتَنَا فِي دِينِنَا

Do not cause us to be afflicted in our religion.

وَلَا تَجْعَلِ الدُّنْيَا أَكْبَرَ هَمِّنَا وَلَا مَبْلَغَ عِلْمِنَا

Do not cause this world to be our greatest concern, or the farthest extent of our knowledge.

وَلَا تُسَلِّطْ عَلَيْنَا مَنْ لَا يَرْحَمُنَا

And do not give authority over us to anyone who would not be merciful towards us.

Notes:

{1} The foregoing introduction, referred to as Khutbatul-Haajah in Arabic, was narrated from the Prophet (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) by way of several authentic ahaadeeth.

{2} Prior segment adapted from (34) in Sermons from al-Masjid al-Haraam (1437h).

{3} Prior segment adapted from (34) in Sermons from al-Masjid al-Haraam (1440h).

{4} Prior segment adapted from (35) in Sermons from al-Masjid al-Haraam (1439h).

{5} Prior segment adapted from (35) in Sermons from al-Masjid al-Haraam (1440h).

{6} Prior segment adapted from (34) in Sermons from al-Masjid al-Haraam (1440h).