Khutba e Shabaniya

Khutba e Shabaniya

1. Virtues of the Month of Ramadan:

أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّهُ قَدْ أَقْبَلَ إِلَيْكُمْ شَهْرُ اللَّهِ بِالْبَرَكَةِ وَ الرَّحْمَةِ وَ الْمَغْفِرَةِ شَهْرٌ هُوَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَفْضَلُ الشُّهُورِ وَ أَيَّامُهُ أَفْضَلُ الْأَيَّامِ وَ لَيَالِيهِ أَفْضَلُ اللَّيَالِي وَ سَاعَاتُهُ أَفْضَلُ السَّاعَاتِ

“O People! “Indeed ahead of you is the blessed month of Allah. A month of blessings, mercy and forgiveness. A month that is the best of months, the days of which the best of days, nights of which are the best of nights and hours of which are the best of hours.

1. Guests of the Almighty:

هُوَ شَهْرٌ دُعِيتُمْ فِيهِ إِلَى ضِيَافَةِ اللَّهِ وَ جُعِلْتُمْ فِيهِ مِنْ أَهْلِ كَرَامَةِ اللَّهِ

It is the month which invites you to be the guests of Allah and invites you to be one of those near to Him.

1. Rewards which one gets unconsciously:

أَنْفَاسُكُمْ فِيهِ تَسْبِيحٌ وَ نَوْمُكُمْ فِيهِ عِبَادَةٌ وَ عَمَلُكُمْ فِيهِ مَقْبُولٌ وَ دُعَاؤُكُمْ فِيهِ مستجاب

Each breath you take glorifies Him; your sleep is worship, your deeds are accepted and your supplications are answered.

1. Conditions of being the guest of honour of the Lord:

فسئلوالل فَاسْأَلُوا اللَّهَ رَبَّكُمْ بِنِيَّاتٍ صَادِقَةٍ وَ قُلُوبٍ طَاهِرَةٍ أَنْ يُوَفِّقَكُمْ لِصِيَامِهِ وَ تِلَاوَةِ كِتَابِهِ فَإِنَّ الشَّقِيَّ مَنْ حُرِمَ غُفْرَانَ اللَّهِ فِي هَذَا الشَّهْرِ الْعَظِيمِ

So, ask Allah, your Lord; to give you a sound body and an enlightened heart so you may be able to fast and recite His book, for the worst of being is he who is devoid of Allah’s forgiveness during this great month.

1. Recalling the Day of Judgement:

وَ اذْكُرُوا بِجُوعِكُمْ وَ عَطَشِكُمْ فِيهِ جُوعَ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَ عَطَشَهُ

Remember the hunger and thirst of the day of Qiyamah (Judgement) with your hunger and thirst.

1. Remembering the needy:

وَ تَصَدَّقُوا عَلَى فُقَرَائِكُمْ وَ مَسَاكِينِكُمْ

Give alms to the needy and poor.

1. Maintaining social norms:

وَقِّرُوا كِبَارَكُمْ وَارْحَمُواصِغَارَكُمْ وَ صِلُوا أَرْحَامَكُمْ

Honour your old, show kindness to the young ones, maintain relations with your blood relations.

1. Guarding the tongue:

وَ احْفَظُوا أَلْسِنَتَكُمْ

Guard your tongues.

1. Protecting the eyes:

وَ غُضُّوا عَمَّا لَا يَحِلُّ النَّظَرُ إِلَيْهِ أَبْصَارَكُمْ

Close your eyes to that which is not permissible for your sight.

1. Closing the ears:

و غضوا وَ عَمَّا لَا يَحِلُّ الِاسْتِمَاعُ إِلَيْهِ أَسْمَاعَكُمْ

Close your ears to that which is forbidden to hear.

1. Taking care of the orphans:

وَ تَحَنَّنُوا عَلَى أَيْتَامِ النَّاسِ يُتَحَنَّنْ عَلَى أَيْتَامِكُمْ

Show compassion to the orphans of others so compassion may be shown to your orphans.

1. Repentance:

وَ تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ ذُنُوبِكُمْ

Repent to Allah for your sins.

1. Invocation to Allah:

وَ ارْفَعُوا إِلَيْهِ أَيْدِيَكُمْ بِالدُّعَاءِ فِي أَوْقَاتِ صَلَاتِكُمْ‏فَإِنَّهَا أَفْضَلُ السَّاعَاتِ يَنْظُرُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِيهَا بِالرَّحْمَةِ إِلَى عِبَادِهِ يُجِيبُهُمْ إِذَا نَاجَوْهُ وَ يُلَبِّيهِمْ إِذَا نَادَوْهُ وَ يُعْطِيهِمْ إِذَا سَأَلُوهُ وَ يَسْتَجِيبُ لَهُمْ إِذَا دَعَوْهُ

Raise your hands in dua during these times, for they are the best of times and Allah looks towards His creatures with kindness, replying to them during the hours and granting their needs if He is asked.

1. Deeds:

اَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ أَنْفُسَكُمْ مَرْهُونَةٌ بِأَعْمَالِكُمْ فَفُكُّوهَا بِاسْتِغْفَارِكُمْ وَ ظُهُورَكُمْ ثَقِيلَةٌ مِنْ أَوْزَارِكُمْ فَخَفِّفُوا عَنْهَا بِطُولِ سُجُودِكُمْ

“O People! Indeed your souls are captivated with your deeds, free it with Istighfar (repentance) lighten its load with long prostrations.

1. Offering prayers:

وَ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ أَقْسَمَ بِعِزَّتِهِ أَنْ لَا يُعَذِّبَ الْمُصَلِّينَ وَ السَّاجِدِينَ وَ أَنْ لَا يُرَوِّعَهُمْ بِالنَّارِ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ النَّاسُ لِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

Know that Allah swears by His might: That there is no punishment for the one who prays and prostrates and he shall have no fear of the fire on the day when man stands before the Lord of the Worlds.

1. Feeding:

أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ مَنْ فَطَّرَ مِنْكُمْ صَائِماً مُؤْمِناً فِي هَذَا الشَّهْرِ كَانَ لَهُ بِذَلِكَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عِتْقُ نَسَمَةٍ وَ مَغْفِرَةٌ لِمَا مَضَى مِنْ ذُنُوبِهِ، قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَلَيْسَ كُلُّنَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ ص اتَّقُوا النَّارَ وَ لَوْ بِشِقِّ تَمْرَةٍ اتَّقُوا النَّارَ وَ لَوْ بِشَرْبَةٍ مِنْ مَاء.ٍ

“O People! One who gives Iftaar to a fasting person during this month will be like one who has freed someone and his past sins will be forgiven.

Some of the people who were there then asked the Prophet (s): “Not all of us are able to invite those who are fasting?”

The Prophet (s) replied: “Allah gives this reward even if the Iftaar (meal) is a drink of water.”

1. Moral science:

أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ مَنْ حَسَّنَ مِنْكُمْ فِي هَذَا الشَّهْرِ خُلُقَهُ كَانَ لَهُ جَوَازاً عَلَى الصِّرَاطِ يَوْمَ تَزِلُّ فِيهِ الْأَقْدَامُ

“One who has good morals (Akhlaq) during this month will be able to pass the ‘Siraat’…on the day that feet will slip.

1. Being kind towards the guarded ones:

وَ مَنْ خَفَّفَ فِي هَذَا الشَّهْرِ عَمَّا مَلَكَتْ يَمِينُهُ خَفَّفَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ حِسَابَهُ وَ مَنْ كَفَّ فِيهِ شَرَّهُ كَفَّ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ غَضَبَهُ يَوْمَ يَلْقَاهُ وَ مَنْ أَكْرَمَ فِيهِ يَتِيماً أَكْرَمَهُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ يَلْقَاهُ

Whoever lightens the burden from the guarded ones ( kids, servants etc.) Allah will lighten his burden of his account.

“One who covers the faults of others will benefit in that Allah will curb His anger on the day of Judgement…

“As for one who honours an orphan; Allah will honour him on the Day of Judgement.

1. Having good relations with the relatives:

وَ مَنْ وَصَلَ فِيهِ رَحِمَهُ وَصَلَهُ اللَّهُ بِرَحْمَتِهِ يَوْمَ يَلْقَاهُ وَ مَنْ قَطَعَ فِيهِ رَحِمَهُ قَطَعَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ رَحْمَتَهُ يَوْمَ يَلْقَاهُ

“And for the one who spreads his kindness towards his kinsmen, Allah will spread His mercy over him on the Day of Judgement.”As for the one who cuts the ties of relation; Allah will cut His mercy from him.

1. Reward of optional prayers:

وَ مَنْ تَطَوَّعَ فِيهِ بِصَلَاةٍ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بَرَاءَةً مِنَ النَّارِ

“Who so ever performs a recommended prayer in this month Allah will keep the fire of Hell away from him.

1. Reward of obligatory prayers:

وَ مَنْ أَدَّى فِيهِ فَرْضاً كَانَ لَهُ ثَوَابُ مَنْ أَدَّى سَبْعِينَ فَرِيضَةً فِيمَا سِوَاهُ مِنَ الشُّهُورِ

“Whoever performs an obligatory prayer Allah will reward him with seventy prayers [worth] in this month.

1. Offering salutations to the Prophet (saw):

وَ مَنْ أَكْثَرَ فِيهِ مِنَ الصَّلَاةِ عَلَيَّ ثَقَّلَ اللَّهُ مِيزَانَهُ يَوْمَ تَخِفُّ الْمَوَازِينُ

And who so ever prays a lot during this month will have his load lightened on the Day of Measure.

1. Reward of recitation of the Holy Quran:

وَ مَنْ تَلَا فِيهِ آيَةً مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِ مَنْ خَتَمَ الْقُرْآنَ فِي غَيْرِهِ مِنَ الشُّهُورِ

“He who recites one verse of the Holy Quran will be given the rewards of reciting the whole Qur’an during other months.

1. Heaven and Hell:

أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ أَبْوَابَ الْجِنَانِ فِي هَذَا الشَّهْرِ مُفَتَّحَةٌ فَاسْأَلُوا رَبَّكُمْ أَنْ لَا يُغَلِّقَهَا عَنْكُمْ وَ أَبْوَابَ النِّيرَانِ مُغَلَّقَةٌ فَاسْأَلُوا رَبَّكُمْ أَنْ لَا يُفَتِّحَهَا عَلَيْكُمْ وَالشَّيَاطِينَ مَغْلُولَةٌ فَاسْأَلُوا رَبَّكُمْ أَنْ لَا يُسَلِّطَهَا عَلَيْكُمْ

O People! Indeed during this month the doors of heaven are open, therefore ask Allah not to close them for you; The doors of hell are closed, so ask Allah to keep them closed for you. During this month Shaytan (Satan) is imprisoned so ask your Lord not to let him have power over you.

1. Best of the deeds:

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عليه السلام فَقُمْتُ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا أَفْضَلُ الْأَعْمَالِ فِي هَذَا الشَّهْرِ؟ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ أَفْضَلُ الْأَعْمَالِ فِي هَذَا الشَّهْرِ الْوَرَعُ عَنْ مَحَارِمِ اللَّهِ

Imam Ali (a.s) asks the Prophet (saw) OProphet of Allah what is the best of deeds? The Beloved Prophet (saw) replied by saying: O Abul Hassan (a.s) the best of deeds in this month is protecting the self from the prohibited things (Haram).

1. Shahadat and Wilayat (Martyrdom and Guardianship):

ثُمَّ بَكَي‌، فَقُلْتُ: مَا يُبْكِيْكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَهِ ؟ فَقَالَ: أَبْكِي‌ لِمَا يُسْتَحَلُّ مِنْكَ فِي‌ هَذَا الشَّهْرِ؛ كَأَنِّي‌ بِكَ وَ أَنْتَ تُصَلِّي‌ لِرَبِّكَ وَ قَدِ انْبَعَثَ أَشْقَي‌ الاْوَّلِينَ وَ ا لاْ خِرِينَ، شَقِيقُ عَاقِرِ نَاقَةِ ثَمُودَ؛ فَضَرَبَكَ ضَرَبَةً عَلَي‌ قَرْنِكَ فَخُضِبَتْ مِنْهَا لِحْيَتُكَ
فَقُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَهِ! فِي‌ سَلاَمَةٍ مِنْ دِيني‌ ؟ فَقَالَ صَلَّي‌ اللَهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ ءَالِهِ وَ سَلَّمَ: فِي‌ سَلاَمَةٍ مِنْ دِينِكَ
ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَا عَلِيُّ! مَنْ قَتَلَكَ فَقَدْ قَتَلَنِي‌، وَ مَنْ أَبْغَضَكَ فَقَدْ أَبْغَضَنِي‌؛ لاِنَّكَ مِنِّي‌ كَنَفْسِي‌، وَ طِينَتُكَ مِنْ طِينَتِي‌، وَ أَنْتَ وَصِيِّي‌ وَ خَلِيفَتِي‌ فِي‌ أُمَّتِي‌.

The Prophet (s.s) started crying Imam Ali (a.s) asked OProphet of Allah why are you crying? He said: Im crying for what is going to happen to you in this month, as I see while you are praying the worst of beings in this world and the world to come, even worse than the killer of the she camel of Thamood, will strike you on your forehead. Your beard will be colored with your blood; then I asked him OProphet of Allah! Will this be at a time where I have achieved safety of my religion? The Prophet (saw) said: Yes you will be firm in your religion, then he said: O Ali whoever kills you it is as if he has killed me, whoever angers you he has angered me, indeed you are to me like I am to myself, your nature is my nature and you are my heir and my caliph for my followers.