Friday Sermon 9 February 1996

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The month of Ramadan which comprises of a few days is a practice for the whole year.  'The Holy Quran' and the Ahadith highlight the importance of fasting in the month of Ramadan.  One meaning of *أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَاتٍ ['A few days'] is that if one keeps the fasts they will bring eternal blessings.  These meanings encourage those who shirk from fasting, who are not used to offering sacrifices for the cause of God.  However for those who have tasted the pleasures of Ramadan the meanings would connote pity that it is only for a few days.  Such beautiful and bountiful days and so few.

Everything has an appropriate season.  This is a season that transforms the winter.  In it even the weak arise and surround the mighty with their support which strengthens them to go forward.  The greed born from the words أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَاتٍ is one indicating that these days will not last so can be compared to moments of union with a beloved.  Strangely the days of no other month are counted to as the days of this month are and each person counts with different emotions.  The emotion towards the end of Ramadan is one of the water that flows around a waterfall.  It is one of rapid speed.  And then the final 10 days of Ramadan take one along with their flow.  It was the practice of the Holy Prophet to spend the last 11 days in seclusion.  It is a time when prayers spring from the hearts and  flow from the eyes like waterfalls.  One can understand أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَاتٍ by seeing these scenes and feeling these emotions that it was just a few days.  Who knows whether our sins were even forgiven or not.  Who knows if we were successful in pleasing God or not.  So make an effort to pray and Allah will  enable you to fulfill the obligations of the remaining days and make them your own so that you begin to love these days so that these days would adopt you so as to leave their blessings behind with you so that you progress out of Ramadan transformed.

There is a Prophetic Hadith that:

In Paradise there are 8 gates. There is one gate called Rayan. None shall enter it except those who fast and after they enter it, it will be locked behind them and none else will enter through it.

(Abu Abdullah Muhammad al-Bukhari.  'Sahih Bukhari').

These are metaphors.  It means that human nature has been fashioned so that certain pleasures in heaven will only be granted to those who have first been prepared for them in this world and it is possible for one to taste different pleasures simultaneously.  The gate to Paradise has to be fashioned by ourselves in this world.  These same pleasures will be metamorphosed in heaven. 

Be as generous and efficient in the conduct of good deeds, prayers and giving alms, as the wind is in a strong gale.  The Holy prophet would become even more generous in Ramadan.  In this regard we should also analyse whether our virtues have risen with a renewed vigour in these days or not.  If you have felt increased pleasure in acting virtuously then you have definitely gained something.  The whole aim of Ramadan is to meet God.  The only pleasure to be gained in Ramadan would be in the moments when one feels nearer to God.  

Abstain from quarrels and lies. Sins and good deeds always increase.  There is a Prophetic Hadith that:

Fasting is a shield from the fire and from sin. If one of you is fasting, he should avoid lewdness and quarreling and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say twice 'I am fasting.' By Him in Whose Hands is my soul the smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk.

(Ibid).

I draw your attention to wage a global Jihad against falsehood because lying is a curse that becomes a habit and one doesn't even realise that one is lying.  Today the flood of lies has engulfed such large and powerful nations who once used to pride themselves on their truthfulness.  Today the flag of waging a Holy War against lies has been given into the hands of the Ahmadiyya Community.  One who partakes of lying while fasting might as well eat everything along with his own fast.  A great effort and struggle is required to cleanse the entire world of untruth.

* A few days, but whoso is ill or travelling should do so on a corresponding number of other days; and for those who find fasting an unbearable strain is an expiation in the feeding of one in need.  But anyone who is anxious and obedient in doing a good deed it is indeed better.  And fasting is good for you if only you knew.

('The Holy Quran'.  al-Baqarah [The Heifer]: 185).


The text http://www.alislam.org/urdu/sermon/FST19960209-UR.pdf


© The Tahir Archive / MTA International, 2015.
Friday Sermon 9 February 1996

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