MAXIMIZING THE OPPORTUNITIES OF SEASONS OF GOOD DEEDS AND VIRTUOUS TIMES.

In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

THE FIFTH SERMON FOR THE MONTH OF RABI’ AL-THANI, DATED 29/4/1446 AH (1/11/2024)

TOPIC: MAXIMIZING THE OPPORTUNITIES OF SEASONS OF GOOD DEEDS AND VIRTUOUS TIMES

All praises are due to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. We praise Him, thank Him, seek His help and guidance, and seek His forgiveness and repentance. Whomever Allah guides is rightly guided, and whomever He lets go astray, none can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, without any partners, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. O Allah, send Your blessings and peace upon him, his family, and his companions, and upon all who follow them in goodness until the Day of Judgment.

To Proceed:

Dear Servants of Allah, I advise you and myself to have piety towards Allah Almighty, both in private and in public, for it is the ultimate purpose of all acts of worship, commands, and prohibitions. Allah, Exalted be He, has said: (يَاأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ“O mankind, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous.” [Al-Baqarah, 2:21].

Allah, in His infinite mercy and kindness towards this Ummah, has designated certain times and specific seasons where people race to perform acts of worship and strive diligently in righteous deeds that bring them closer to Allah’s pleasure. Through these seasons, Allah tests who among them is best in deeds. A person should prepare himself for these seasons, seizing them and not neglecting righteous acts within them, so that he may gain Allah’s approval and be among the successful.

Each of these virtuous seasons has specific acts of worship prescribed by Allah, through which a person draws near to Him. In these seasons, there are gentle breezes of divine blessings that touch those who benefit from His grace and mercy. Blessed is the one who makes the most of these seasons, months, days, and hours by drawing closer to his Lord through the prescribed acts of worship. He may receive a blessing from these divine breezes, which will bring him enduring happiness, sparing him from the torment of Hellfire and its scorching flames. (Refer to Ibn Rajab’s Tafsir [1/532].)

Allah Almighty has said: (فَمَنْ زُحْزِحَ عِنِ النَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ الجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ)

“Whoever is removed from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has indeed succeeded.” [Aal ‘Imran, 3:185].

And He, Exalted be He, has also said: (فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ شَقُوا فَفِي النَّارِ لَهُمْ فِيهَا زَفِيرٌ وَشَهِيقٌ (106) خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا مَا دَامَتِ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ رَبُّكَ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ فَعَّالٌ لِمَا يُرِيدُ (107) وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ سُعِدُوا فَفِي الْجَنَّةِ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا مَا دَامَتِ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ رَبُّكَ عَطَاءً غَيْرَ مَجْذُوذٍ)

“As for those who are wretched, they will be in the Fire; for them therein is [violent] exhaling and inhaling, abiding therein as long as the heavens and the earth endure, except what your Lord should will. Indeed, your Lord is an effecter of what He intends. And as for those who were blessed, they will be in Paradise, abiding therein as long as the heavens and the earth endure, except what your Lord should will—a bestowal uninterrupted.” [Hud:106–108].

The Different Attitudes of People During Seasons of Worship

People’s attitudes vary greatly during these seasons of worship, just as they differ in age and provision; some do little, others do much, while some are miserable and others are blessed. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Every person starts his day a vendor of his soul, either freeing it or bringing it to ruin.” (Narrated by Muslim, 223, from Abu Malik al-Ash’ari, may Allah be pleased with him).

People in Seasons of Worship are of Two Types:

The first type is those who understand the purpose for which they were created. They realize they were not created just to eat, drink, play, enjoy, and dress up, but that Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, created them for worship and obedience, as He said: (وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنْسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ)

“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” [Adh-Dhariyat, 51:56].

These are people whose hearts are filled with knowledge of Allah, overwhelmed by love, reverence, and mindfulness of Him. This love has permeated their hearts and bodies so deeply that every vein and joint is infused with it. Their love for Allah makes them forget all else, and their closeness to Him leaves them feeling estranged from everything besides Him.

At night, though their bodies rest on beds, their hearts have turned to their Lord and Beloved, Who has sheltered them, and so they bow before Him in humility and submission, broken from every side. What a remarkable prostration it is and how noble it is! Allah, Exalted be He, describes the qualities of such people and the beautiful reward prepared for them:

(وَالسَّابِقُونَ السَّابِقُونَ (10) أُولَئِكَ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ (11) فِي جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ (12) ثُلَّةٌ مِنَ الْأَوَّلِينَ (13) وَقَلِيلٌ مِنَ الْآخِرِينَ (14) عَلَى سُرُرٍ مَوْضُونَةٍ (15) مُتَّكِئِينَ عَلَيْهَا مُتَقَابِلِينَ (16)يَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَانٌ مُخَلَّدُونَ (17) بِأَكْوَابٍ وَأَبَارِيقَ وَكَأْسٍ مِنْ مَعِينٍ (18) لَا يُصَدَّعُونَ عَنْهَا وَلَا يُنْزِفُونَ (19) وَفَاكِهَةٍ مِمَّا يَتَخَيَّرُونَ (20) وَلَحْمِ طَيْرٍ مِمَّا يَشْتَهُونَ (21) وَحُورٌ عِينٌ (22) كَأَمْثَالِ اللُّؤْلُؤِ الْمَكْنُونِ (23) جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ (24) لَا يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْوًا وَلَا تَأْثِيمًا (25) إِلَّا قِيلًا سَلَامًا سَلَامًا)

“And the forerunners, the forerunners—those are the ones brought near [to Allah] in the Gardens of Pleasure. A [large] company of the former peoples, and a few of the later peoples, on thrones woven [with ornament], reclining on them, facing each other. There will circulate among them [servant] boys [especially] for them, as if they were pearls well-protected, with cups, pitchers, and a drink of flowing wine; no headache will they have therefrom, nor will they be intoxicated; and fruit of what they select and the meat of fowl, from whatever they desire. And [for them are] fair women with large, [beautiful] eyes, the likenesses of pearls well-protected, as reward for what they used to do. They will not hear therein ill speech or commission of sin, only a saying: ‘Peace, peace.” [Al-Waqi’ah, 56:10-26].

As for the second type, they are heedless, distracted, and oblivious. They do not value their time or life, nor do they recognize the rights of their Creator and Sustainer. You will find them wasting their time in amusement and play. Days and years pass by without their noticing or appreciating the blessings or value of these times. Their selfish desires and passions override their duties and the rights of their Lord. They leave this world with no provisions. How great their regret for neglecting their own welfare and failing their Lord! How deep the sorrow of those who waste their time and life on things of no benefit!

Ibn al-Qayyim said: “Time passes by itself and departs with its own flow, so those who are heedless lose their moments, and the losses they incur increase, as do their regrets. Imagine their condition when they realize the extent of their losses at the time when it is too late to make up for it. They will wish to regain what has slipped away, but there will be no way to return to what has passed. They will desire to recall what they missed, but yesterday cannot return to the present. They will be distanced from what they want to achieve and deprived of the things they desire. And they will come to know that what they acquired was never worth having for a person of sound mind.” (Refer to Ibn al-Qayyim’s Madarij al-Saliki [3/50]).

On the Day of Resurrection, when a servant stands before their Lord, their gains and losses will become clear, for after death there are only two outcomes: either eternal bliss or eternal torment. In Allah’s perfect justice and mercy, He made clear to them their deeds, illuminated the path to Paradise and what leads to it, and clarified the path to Hellfire and what turns away from it.

(لِيَهْلِكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ عَنْ بَيِّنَةٍ وَيَحْيَى مَنْ حَيَّ عَنْ بَيِّنَةٍ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَسَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ)

“So that those who perished [through disbelief] would perish upon evidence, and those who lived [in faith] would live upon evidence. And indeed, Allah is Hearing and Knowing.” [Al-Anfal, 8:42].

Second Sermon:

MEANS TO MAXIMIZING THE SEASONS OF WORSHIP

All praise is due to Allah alone, with no partner, and peace and blessings be upon the Prophet after whom there is no prophet. I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah alone, without partners, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, his family, and his companions in abundance.

One must take the necessary means that bring one closer to their Lord, Almighty and Exalted, to attain His pleasure. Among the means that assist in seizing the seasons and times of worship and goodness are:

1. Repentance and Frequent Seeking of Forgiveness

The first thing a person should do to welcome seasons of goodness and acts of worship is to repent and return to their Lord, Exalted and Blessed. They should acknowledge their shortcomings so that they can approach times of worship with a heart free of sins and purified, increasing in seeking forgiveness. For a servant may be prevented from doing good deeds because of their sins. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would begin prayer—the most beloved action to Allah—by saying: “O Allah, distance me from my sins as You have distanced the East from the West. O Allah, purify me from my sins as a white garment is purified from dirt. O Allah, wash away my sins with water, snow, and hail.” One of the greatest obstacles that prevents a person from worshiping their Lord is sin and wrongdoing.

2. Sincerity of Intention for Allah:

Only Allah knows the state of hearts and intentions. Whoever seeks something from their Lord with a sincere, devoted heart and resolute will is blessed with success, ease, and assistance from Allah, and Allah grants them what they desire. If a person is sincere with Allah, Allah will be sincere with them. In the story of the Bedouin who came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), believed in him, and followed him, the Prophet gave him a share (of wealth). But the man said, “I did not follow you for this. I followed you so that I might be struck here—pointing to his throat—with an arrow, die, and enter Paradise.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) then said, “If you are sincere with Allah, He will be sincere with you.” Shortly after, they fought in a battle, and the man was struck with an arrow at the spot he indicated. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was informed, he said, “Is this the man?” They replied, “Yes.” He said, “He was sincere with Allah, so Allah was sincere with him.” The Prophet then shrouded him in his own cloak, performed the funeral prayer for him, and among the words he said were, “O Allah, this is Your servant who migrated for Your sake and was martyred. I am a witness for him.” (Narrated by An-Nasa’i, authenticated by Al-Albani in Al-Jami’ As-Saghir [3756]).

This is the case of a man who was sincere in his intention, despite having never prostrated to Allah even once. When one is sincere with Allah, Allah reciprocates that sincerity.

3. Recognizing the Shortness of Life and Time: 

A person should be conscious of the shortness of their life and time. When one approaches seasons of goodness with a sense of limited time, thinking, “I do not know if I will live until tomorrow,” it certainly becomes one of the greatest motivators to make the most of seasons of worship. No matter how long one’s life may seem, death awaits in the end. Nothing stands between a person and the afterlife except the taking of their soul. Death does not spare the young because of their youth, nor the old because of their age.

(وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلٌ فَإِذَا جَاءَ أَجَلُهُمْ لَا يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ سَاعَةً وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ

“And every nation has its appointed term; when their time has come, they will not delay it by a single hour, nor can they advance it.” [Al-A’raf: 34]

The righteous, aware of life’s shortness, hastened and traversed the stages of night and day, making the most of their time. So, listen closely, my brother, to your Lord’s call: (فَفِرُّوا إِلَى اللَّهِ) “So flee to Allah.” [Adh-Dhariyat, 51:50]. Hasten before your record is closed, lift the veil of heedlessness, and prepare for tomorrow’s race. Indeed, this world is the arena for competitors, and know that we were created to live in an abode planted by the hand of the Most Merciful. (Lessons by Shaykh Sayyid Husayn Al-Affani [9/7]).

4. Praying to Allah for Success in Goodness: 

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) frequently prayed for goodness, consistently asking Allah Almighty for guidance, success, and steadfastness. In one hadith, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) taught her this supplication: “O Allah, I ask You for all that is good, both immediate and delayed, what I know of it and what I do not know. And I seek refuge in You from all that is evil, both immediate and delayed, what I know of it and what I do not know.”

This hadith reminds us that a wise person should seek from Allah all beneficial things that are beyond their own capacity to obtain, striving with Allah’s help for what they can achieve both in the present and future, in every state, time, and place. (Fayd al-Qadir Sharh Al-Jami’ As-Saghir by Al-Munawi [2/161]).

Whoever stands at their Lord’s door, asking Him for His mercy and bounty, will not be turned away, for He is the Most Generous. Allah, Exalted is He, has pledged to grant everyone who asks what they seek. It has been narrated that Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say, “I am not concerned about whether my supplication will be answered; rather, I am concerned with making the supplication. For if I am inspired to make du’a, then the response comes with it.”

So, whoever is inspired to make du’a has indeed been intended for an answer, as Allah, Exalted is He, says: (ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ) “Call upon Me; I will respond to you,” [Ghafir, 40:60] 

And (وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ) “And when My servants ask you concerning Me—indeed I am near. I respond to the supplication of the supplicant when he calls upon Me.” [Al-Baqarah, 2:186].

5. Following the Guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in Seasons of Worship: 

Those most deserving of Allah’s mercy, guidance, and favor are those who adhere to the teachings of the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). There is no path to success and righteousness during seasons of goodness and acts of worship except by following the guidance of Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). This is the only unique path and the straight way that Allah, Exalted is He, has commanded us to follow:

(وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُولَئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَالصَّالِحِينَ وَحَسُنَ أُولَئِكَ رَفِيقًا (69) ذَلِكَ الْفَضْلُ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَكَفَى بِاللَّهِ عَلِيمًا)

“And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger—those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favor of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs, and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions. That is the bounty from Allah, and sufficient is Allah as Knower.” [An-Nisa: 69-70]

Whoever seeks the love and pleasure of Allah should follow the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in his guidance, approach, and method. Accordingly, it is not permissible for anyone to bind themselves or others to any specific act of worship at any time unless it has been prescribed by Allah Almighty or by His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever innovates something in this matter of ours [religion] that is not from it, it will be rejected.”

Ibn Rajab stated, “Whoever seeks closeness to Allah with an action that neither Allah nor His Messenger have made a means of drawing closer to Him, then his action is invalid and rejected.” (Jami’ al-‘Ulum wa al-Hikam by Ibn Rajab [1/185]).

Supplication: O Allah, grant victory to those striving in Your cause, unite their hearts, bring them together, and guide them to follow Your Book and the Sunnah of Your Prophet. O Allah, prepare the means for us to liberate Al-Aqsa Mosque, and guide both rulers and the ruled among the Muslims to establish Your Sharia and support Your religion. O Allah, deal with the transgressing Jews and those among the Christians and hypocrites who assist them. O Allah, take revenge upon them, sow division among them, shake their footing, and unleash upon them Your severe punishment, which cannot be averted from the criminals. Verily, You are the Answerer of supplications, capable of fulfilling them. May blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.

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