By Sheikh Saleh ibn Muhammad Al Talib – 26 Ramadan 1437

His Eminence Sheikh Saleh ibn Muhammad Al Talib –May Allah protect him– delivered this Friday khutbah entitled “Conclusion of the Month of Ramadan” in which he talked about the good conclusion of this blessed month, Ramadan, and the special worship of Allah, the Almighty, that a Muslim should observe. He should make sure that every moment and hour of Ramadan is spent in obeying Allah –Sublime and exalted be He. He should remember Allah, supplicate Him, and recite the Qur’an. Finally, the Sheikh explained some rulings that concern every Muslim at the end of the month, namely al-Fitr zakat (The fast-breaking charity given to the needy at the end of Ramadan), and the rulings of Eid al-Fitr (The fast-breaking feast) and some of its ethics.

Praise be to Allah! He sends seasons of worship repeatedly to His servants in order to purify them. He prescribes to them certain kinds of worship that increase their reward abundantly. He calls them to repentance every now and then in order for their souls to be purged and purified. I bear witness that there is no deity (worthy of worship) except Allah. How much mercy there exists in His decrees and prescriptions (to His servants)! How much choice He made for us in what we were cautious or afraid of! He has the Kingship and the Kingdom of Heaven; He is the Glorious, the Omnipotent. His decrees are applicable to all creatures, and His treasure houses are full and can never be exhausted. He is glad with His servants’ requests, for He is the Generous. He is also pleased by supplicating Him for mercy, for He is the Merciful. I also bear witness that Muhammad is the Servant and Messenger of Allah; he was the role model for his Ummah. In fearing and supplicating his Lord, he was an example to follow. He filled all his life with worship and obedience; however, the peak of his servitude to his Lord was in these last ten days of Ramadan. He would do all his best during those radiant nights. May Allah’s Salat (Graces, Honours, Mercy), Peace, and Blessing be upon him, his family, his Companions, and his followers in righteousness until the Day of Judgement!

Now then, O Muslims!

Taqwa (fear of disobeying Allah) remains the best recommendation and the best equipment for disasters:

“And verily, We have recommended to the people of the Scripture before you, and to you (O Muslims) that you (all) fear Allâh, ….” [Al-Nisa’: 131]

Whoever does not pay attention to the fact that the passage of days and nights brings him closer to his Lord and takes him away from this world, and that every day that passes of his life-time is a box which is sealed and that every hour that passes takes away part of his soul ‒whoever does not realize all this‒ then he will have falsely elongated his expectation and left his death time out of consideration.

Good Lord! How regretful he will be the one who has not taken advantage of his time in worshipping Allah! Do you know how one’s lifetime is stolen? He gets distracted off his present day in anticipation of his following day. He stays as such until his lifetime is over. The end result is that he is left empty-handed of any good.

O Muslims!

The days and hours of the blessed month which Allah granted you are about to come to an end. Only the farewell days remain: three or four nights which are like droplets of water that one is trying hard to pour. Three or four nights and Ramadan will be taking its leave and it will be bidden farewell. It will carry the good deeds along with it; however, what remains of the month is the best, the most looked-forward to, the greatest, and the most brilliant. In it there exists the night that is the most looked-forward to: the Night of Al-Qadr (the Night of Power/Esteem/Decree). In it still exists the nights of redemption from Hell-fire. The last nights of Ramadan have unrivalled veneration. However, all reliance is indeed on Allah’s Mercy alone.

Because this month’s days and hours are blessed, and because the blessings of Allah are limitless, I advise you to draw as much blessing as possible from what is remaining of this month. Make use of its hours, for you will never know which one of its hours will carry along for you infinite happiness, nor will you know the moment when Allah’s Mercy will engulf you, and when He will grant you full acceptance (of your good deeds).

Therefore, use the remaining hours and nights of this month as mounts to get you closer to Allah’s satisfaction, and win His promised reward. For Allah’s help is extended to His servants depending on how much effort, perseverance, desire, and fear of him they show. By the same token, His letting them down is also in accordance with similar criteria. So, save yourself today while you can, for the day will come when you can do nothing: That is the day of Taghabun (Mutual Loss and Gain).1

O Muslims!

The Messenger of Allah –May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him– used to be more assiduous in worshipping Allah during Ramadan than in other months, and he used to be more assiduous in worshipping Allah during the last ten days of Ramadan than the first twenty days. He used to make I’tikaf 2 in these last ten days and nights. He would do his best, stay up all night, and wake up his family, as was narrated by Bukhari and Muslim.

That is because these nights are privileged and the Prophet had the desire to tally with the Night of Al-Qadr which Allah the Almighty has honoured and blessed. It is the night on which every precise matter is made distinct3. That is, that year’s preordained events by Allah ‒Exalted be He‒ which are detached from Al-Lawh Al-Mahfoodh (the Divine Protected Tablet)4 on to the Scribes (Angels): fates, boons, lifespans, good and evil, and other things of every precise matter.

In the Name of Allah the Compassionate, the Merciful:

“Verily! We have sent it (this Qur’ân) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree). And what will make you know what the night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is? The night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allâh in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months). Therein descend the angels and the Rûh [Jibrael (Gabriel)] by Allâh’s Permission with all Decrees. Peace! (All that night, there is Peace and Goodness from Allâh to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn.” [Al-Qadr: 1-5]

It is the night on which the Great Holy Qur’an was sent down. During this night many Angels descend to Earth because it is so much blessed and because Allah’s Mercy also descends (on His servants). It is peace for the believers and safety from everything they fear. Also, during this night, so many people are redeemed from Hell-fire and so many will be saved from torture (on the Day of Judgement). A Muslim’s worship of Allah therein is better than the worship of one thousand months.

So, congratulations to those whom Allah has guided to worship Him during this night and accepted their worship! The Prophet ‒May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him‒ said: “He who performs the night prayer in the Night of Al-Qadr in full faith and in anticipation of Allah’s reward in the Hereafter will have all his previous sins forgiven,” [Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim].

It is the night of salvation from Hellfire; it is the night where Allah boasts in front of the Angels of His worshipping servants, the night of supplication and closeness to Allah, the night of mercy and forgiveness, the mother of all nights. In it there is much blessing; its hours are so precious since little worship is made much (worship), and much worship is multiplied.

It is Allah’s Mercy for His servants that He made the Night of Al-Qadr unknown to them. He did so to help them increase their good deeds as they keep seeking it among the last ten nights of Ramadan by praying, remembering Allah and supplicating Him. All this would bring them closer to Allah and to His awaited recompense. He hid it in order to test them and see who are serious in seeking it and making the best out of it and who are lazy and indifferent. For those who care about something will definitely do their best to get it, regardless of how much hardship they come across along the way. Therefore, do your best in collecting good deeds.

Aisha –May Allah be pleased with her– said: “The Messenger of Allah –May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him– used to stay in the Masjid during the last ten days of Ramadan, and he used to say: ‘Seek the Night of Al-Qadr among the last ten nights of Ramadan,” [Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim].

Each night is worthy of being the Night of Al-Qadr, especially the odd-number nights, and in particular the night of the twenty seventh day (of the month). In every night Allah saves a number of His servants from Hellfire. Aisha –May Allah be pleased with her– said: “I said: O Messenger of Allah! You see, if I knew which night was the Night of Al-Qadr, what should I say then? He said: ‘Say: O Allah! You are Forgiving and love forgiveness, so forgive me,” [An authentic hadith narrated by the following Imams: Ahmad, Al-Tirmithy, and ibn Majah].

Ibn Rajab ‒May Allah bless his soul‒ said: “During the last ten nights of Ramadan, the Prophet ‒May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him‒ would wake up all members of his family who were able to perform the night prayers.”

O Muslims!

Performing the night prayer collectively with the believers in these nights is indeed a great blessing. It enlivens resolve and enhances energy and vitality: there is recitation of the Qur’an, prostrating, kneeling, and supplicating; there is also a Generous Lord.

Long night prayer requires perseverance and patience, and whoever thinks about how many hours he has lost and wasted during the whole year, he would not consider long his hours spent in night prayer. Remember while performing your long night prayer the length of the time spent standing before Allah on the Resurrection Day. Therefore, try to make that long standing short by lengthening your night prayer. In your long prostration (to Allah), express to Him your needs, desires, and fears. Verily, Allah is near and responsive.

Allah’s servant has two occasions during which he stands in front of Allah: the first at the time of performing prayer and the other at the time of meeting Him. Whoever honours rightly the first one, the second will be made easier for him.

Therefore, make the conclusion (of this month) good! May Allah conclude it with the best reward (for you and us)! Insist on Allah in your supplications, for He loves those who insist on Him. Implore Allah and beg Him! Humble yourself to Him ‒May He be Exalted‒ and ask Him for forgiveness! Request whatever is good in this worldly life and in the Hereafter for yourselves, your families, relatives, countries, leaders, for those stationed in the frontlines in your defence on the borders of your countries, and for all Muslims.

Also, devote part of your supplication for your disaster-stricken brothers and sisters, especially those in Syria and Palestine, and for every Muslim’s bleeding wound:

“Invoke your Lord with humility and in secret. He likes not the aggressors. (55) And do not do mischief on the earth, after it has been set in order, and invoke Him with fear and hope; Surely, Allâh’s Mercy is (ever) near unto the good ­doers,” [Al-A’raf: 55-56].

May Allah bless you and me by the Qur’an and the Sunnah and benefit us with the marvels and wisdom they contain! I say this and ask Allah, the Almighty, to forgive me and you!