"KHUTBAH
AS-SIYAM" (SERMON ON FASTING)
By:
Shaykh al-Islam Ibrahim Niasse (RA)
From:
‘Jawahir ar-Rasa‘il (Essential Letters)’ - 11th Khutba
Compiled
by: Shaykh Ahmad Ali Abul-Fat’hi
(Interpreted
from the Arabic by Imam Muhammad Abdullahi al-Tijani al-Ibrahimi)
In
The Name of Allah, The Compassionate, The Merciful
All
praise and thanks belongs to Allah, Who has made fasting to be a garden of the
God-conscious (Muttaqin), the month of Ramadan a blessing to the believers
(Mu’minin), a profitable exchange for the worshippers (‘Abidin), and beloved to
the hearts of the Gnostic Saints (‘Arifin). I bear witness there is no god but
Allah and Muhammad is His servant whom He chose and sent to the entirety of
creation.
Peace
and blessings be upon the Master of those sent forth and the Leader of the
God-conscious folk, and also upon his Family and Companions and all of those
who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment. After this:
O
People! Have conscious awareness of Allah (Taqwa) as He deserves, and observe
Him with the observance (Muraqaba) of one who knows that He hears and He sees!
Know that the best hadith is the Book of Allah, the best of guidance is the
guidance of Muhammad (SAW), the worst of affairs are those newly invented
matters and all of the newly invented matters are in the hellfire.
Allah
Ta’ala says: “O you who have Iman! Fasting has been prescribed for you, just as
it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may gain God-consciousness.
(2:183).
It
has been reported by Imam al-Bukhari (RA) in his Sahih collection, on the
authority of Abu Hurayra (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) said: “Whosoever fasts the
month of Ramadan with faith and expectation of reward, Allah will forgive his
previous sins; whosoever worships Allah on the ‘Night of Power’ (Laylat
al-Qadr), with faith and expectation of reward, Allah will forgive his previous
sins.”
It
has also been reported by al-Bukhari, on the authority of Abu Hurayra (RA), that
the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “Fasting is a shield. Whenever one of you is
fasting he should neither indulge in obscene language nor should he raise his voice,
and if anyone reviles him, quarrels or fights with him, he should say ‘I am
fasting, I am fasting’. By Him in whose hand is my soul! The foul breath of the
fasting person is more beloved to Allah than sweet smelling musk. The fasting
person avoids his food, drink, and sexual passions for My Sake. Fasting is for
Me, and I shall reward it and good deeds shall be multiplied at least ten times
over.”
It
has been reported by Imam al-Bukhari (RA) in his Sahih collection, on the
authority of Abu Hurayra (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) said: “Whoever breaks his
fast in Ramadan without a valid concession or excuse or illness, cannot repay
it, even if he were to fast for the rest of his life.”
It
has been reported by Imam al-Bukhari (RA) in his Sahih collection, on the
authority of Ibn Abbas (RA), that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “Look for
the Night of Power in the last ten nights of Ramadan.”
It
has been reported by Imam Muslim (RA) in his Sahih collection, on the authority
of Abu Hurayra (RA), that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “The five daily
prayers, from Jumuah to Jumuah, from Ramadan to Ramadan, is an expiation for
the sins committed in between, provided the major sins are avoided.”
It
has been reported by Ibn Kuzayma and Ibn Hiban, on the authority of Salman
(RA), who said: “The Messenger of Allah (SAW) spoke to us on the last day of
Sha’ban and said: ‘O people! An auspicious month has cast its protective shade
to screen you, a month in which is a night better than a thousand months, a month
in which Allah has obligated you to fast its days and to stand at night in worship
(Tarawih) as a voluntary practice. Whosoever seeks to draw near to Allah by performing
any virtuous deed (or voluntary act) shall be the reward of the one who had performed
an obligatory act (Fara’id) in any other month. And whoever performs a Farida (obligatory
act) will be blessed with the reward equivalent to seventy Fara’id in any other
month. And it is the month of patience, and the reward for patience is Paradise
(Jannah). It is the month of sympathy with one’s fellow beings. It is the month
wherein a believer’s sustenance is increased. Whosoever feeds another fasting
person, then it shall become a source of forgiveness for his sins and freedom
from the hellfire, and for such a person shall be the same reward as the one who
fasted without that person’s reward being decreased.’ We said, ‘O Messenger of
Allah, not everyone of us can afford to give food to a fasting person.’ The
Messenger of Allah replied, ‘Whosoever gives a fasting person water to drink, a
dried date, or a drink of milk, Allah shall grant him a drink from my fountain,
such a drink where after that person shall never again feel thirsty until he
enters Jannah. It is a month in which its first part is mercy, its middle is
forgiveness, and its end is delverance from the hellfire. Whosoever lessens the
burden of his servants in this month Allah will forgive him and free him from
the hellfire. Increase your practice of four things during this month: two of
which will earn you the good pleasure of your Lord, and the other two you
simply cannot do without! As for the two which gain you the good pleasure of
your Lord: they are bearing witness that there is no god but Allah and seeking
His forgiveness. As for those two matters which you cannot do without, they are
that you ask Allah for Jannah and seek His refuge from the hellfire.”
May
Allah grant abundant blessings on the servant who follows the example of the
best of worshippers (SAW)! That is from God-consciousness (Taqwa), which is the
best of provisions!
Allah
has said in the final verse revealed: “And fear the Day when you shall be
brought back to Allah. Then every person shall be paid what he earned, and they
shall not be dealt with unjustly.” (2:281)
(Interpreted from the Arabic by Imam Muhammad Abdullahi al-Tijani al-Ibrahimi)
SUFI BOOKS BY/ON SHAYKH IBRAHIM NIASSE AND THE TIJANI TARIQAH (AVAILABLE FOR SALE)
1. Vessel of Spiritual Flood, Translation of Goran Faydah by Shaykh Balarabe Haroon Jega - (Translated by Khalifah Awwal Baba Taofiq)
2. Rihlat Konakriyah (A trip to Conakry), Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse - (Translated by Khalifah Awwal Baba Taofiq)
2. Rihlat Konakriyah (A trip to Conakry), Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse - (Translated by Khalifah Awwal Baba Taofiq)
3. Shariah and Haqeeqah: In the Light of the Qur'an and the Prophetic Traditions (Compiled by Khalifah Awwal Baba Taofiq)
4. The Icon of Mystics: Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse Al-Kawlakhy (Compiled by Khalifah Awwal Baba Taofiq)
5. Kano Conferences (Majlis Kano) and the khutba titled (Hadiqat al-Anwar fii ma ihtawa alayhi qawaaid al-Islam minal hikam wal asrar) - (Translated by Sayyidah Bilqis Grillo)
6. Katsina and Kaduna Conferences (Jadhbul ahbab ila hadrat Rabbil arbab) and Mecca Conference - (Translated by Sayyidah Bilqis Grillo)
7. A Brief Biography of the Shaykh al-Islam Ibrahim Niasse (Compiled by Sayyidah Bilqis Grillo)
8. Risalat at-Tawbah (Epistle of Repentance) of Shaykh Ibrahim Niyass al-Kawlakhi" – (Translation & Commentary by Dr. Razzaq Solagberu)
9. Islamic Law of Inheritance, by Sayyid Ali ibn Abubakar al-Muthanna ibn Abdullah Niasse (Translated by Dr. Sulaiman Shittu)
10. Muassasah Nasr al-'ilm Int. (AAII) Magazines No. 13, 14 & 15 (with Articles like Outline of Life of Sufi Heros & Heroines like Shaikh Ibrahim Niasse, Shaikh Abdus-Salam Oniwiridi Pakata, Shaikh Muhammad Bello Eleha, Shaikh Ahmad Rufa'i Nda Salati, and others...this magazines also features other interesting Articles).
11. Numerous “English” Sufism & Tijaniyyah Tariqah E-books/Journals/Articles (soft copies - to be sent via email)
12. Numerous “Arabic” Sufism & Tijaniyyah Tariqah E-books/Journals/Articles (soft copies - to be sent via email)
To order for copies, contact;
Call/Whatsapp: +2348034656467
Email: smilebak2004@gmail.com
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