📜 KHUTBAH: HOW RAMADAN WORKS & ITS RULES

📜 KHUTBAH: HOW RAMADAN WORKS & ITS RULES الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ، وَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا، مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ، وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ. أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ. أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنِّي أُوصِيكُمْ وَنَفْسِي بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ، فَقَدْ فَازَ الْمُتَّقُونَ. 1. The Obligation of Ramadan O Muslims! We have entered the blessed month of Ramadan, a month of fasting, worship, and seeking closeness to Allah. Fasting in Ramadan is an obligation upon every adult Muslim, as Allah ﷻ says in the Quran: ﴿ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ﴾ (البقرة: 183) "O you who have believed, fasting has been prescribed upon you as it was prescribed upon those before you, that you may attain taqwa (piety)." Fasting is a pillar of Islam, and whoever denies its obligation is outside the fold of Islam. The Prophet ﷺ said: "بُنِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ ... وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ" (رواه البخاري ومسلم) "Islam is built upon five pillars... and fasting in Ramadan." 2. How Fasting Works Fasting in Ramadan means abstaining from food, drink, and marital relations from Fajr (dawn) until Maghrib (sunset), with the intention of worshiping Allah. The Prophet ﷺ said: "إِنَّمَا الْأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ" (رواه البخاري ومسلم) "Indeed, actions are judged by intentions." Thus, before Fajr, one must make the intention (niyyah) to fast. It does not have to be spoken; it is an intention in the heart. The time of Iftar (breaking the fast) is when the sun sets. The Prophet ﷺ encouraged us to break our fast immediately after sunset, saying: "لَا يَزَالُ النَّاسُ بِخَيْرٍ مَا عَجَّلُوا الْفِطْرَ" (رواه البخاري ومسلم) "The people will remain in good as long as they hasten to break the fast." He ﷺ also recommended breaking the fast with dates and water, saying: "إِذَا أَفْطَرَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيُفْطِرْ عَلَى تَمْرٍ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَلْيُفْطِرْ عَلَى مَاءٍ، فَإِنَّهُ طَهُورٌ" (رواه أبو داود والترمذي) "If one of you breaks his fast, let him break it with dates, for they are a blessing; if he does not have them, then with water, for it is pure." 3. What Invalidates the Fast? The following things break the fast and require qada' (making up the fast later): ❌ Eating or drinking intentionally ❌ Vomiting intentionally ❌ Menstruation or postnatal bleeding ❌ Sexual intercourse However, if a person eats or drinks forgetfully, the Prophet ﷺ said: "مَنْ نَسِيَ وَهُوَ صَائِمٌ فَأَكَلَ أَوْ شَرِبَ فَلْيُتِمَّ صَوْمَهُ، فَإِنَّمَا أَطْعَمَهُ اللَّهُ وَسَقَاهُ" (رواه البخاري ومسلم) "Whoever forgets while fasting and eats or drinks, let him complete his fast, for it is Allah who has fed him and given him drink." 4. Suhoor & The Importance of Pre-Dawn Meal The Prophet ﷺ strongly encouraged suhoor (pre-dawn meal), saying: "تَسَحَّرُوا، فَإِنَّ فِي السَّحُورِ بَرَكَةً" (رواه البخاري ومسلم) "Eat Suhoor, for in it there is blessing." Even if one eats just a small amount, they will gain the blessings of Suhoor and strengthen themselves for the day. 5. Special Acts of Worship in Ramadan Ramadan is not just about abstaining from food and drink, but also about increasing in good deeds and worship: ✅ Taraweeh Prayers: Special night prayers encouraged by the Prophet ﷺ. ✅ Recitation of the Quran: Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was revealed. ✅ Charity & Helping the Poor: The Prophet ﷺ was most generous during Ramadan. ✅ Dua and Seeking Forgiveness: The Prophet ﷺ said, "The dua of a fasting person is not rejected." 6. Exemptions from Fasting Islam is merciful, and some people are excused from fasting: ✔️ The sick – who may make up the fast later. ✔️ Travelers – they can fast later when they return home. ✔️ Elderly and chronically ill – they can feed a poor person instead. ✔️ Pregnant and breastfeeding women – if fasting harms them or their baby, they can fast later. Allah ﷻ says: ﴿ وَمَنْ كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ﴾ (البقرة: 185) "And whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of days [are to be made up later]." 7. Laylatul Qadr - The Night of Power One of the greatest nights in Ramadan is Laylatul Qadr, which is better than a thousand months. ﴿ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ ﴾ (القدر: 3) "The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months." It occurs in the last ten nights, and the Prophet ﷺ encouraged us to seek it by increasing in prayers, Quran, and dua. Conclusion & Dua Dear brothers and sisters, Ramadan is a gift from Allah. Let us take advantage of this blessed month and increase in ibadah (worship), good deeds, and seeking forgiveness. May Allah accept our fasting, prayers, and good deeds, and grant us mercy, forgiveness, and salvation from Hellfire. اللهم بلغنا رمضان، وأعنا على صيامه وقيامه، وتقبله منا، واغفر لنا ذنوبنا، وارزقنا الجنة برحمتك يا أرحم الراحمين. آمين يا رب العالمين. أقول قولي هذا وأستغفر الله لي ولكم، فاستغفروه، إنه هو الغفور الرحيم.