The Prophet's (p.) Sermon on Welcoming Ramadan
Khutbat an-Nabi (p.) fi Istiqbāl Ramaḍān
خُطْبَةُ النَّبِيِّ (ص) فِي اسْتِقْبَالِ رَمَضَان
As we stand on the threshold of the blessed month, we recall the sermon of the Messenger of Allah (p.) upon the arrival of the noble month of Ramadan, and what it contains of beneficial spiritual and moral stations, teachings, and directives that draw attention to the immense meanings this noble month carries, which elevate the human being.
wa naḥnu ʿalā aʿtābi ash-shahri l-faḍīl, nastahḍiru khuṭbata Rasūli llāh (p.) fī istiqbāli shahri Ramaḍāna l-mubārak, wa mā fīhā min maḥaṭṭātin wa taʿālīma wa tawjīhātin rūḥiyyatin wa akhlāqiyyatin nāfiʿah, talfitu ilā ʿaẓīmi mā yaḥmiluhu hādhā sh-shahru l-karīmu min maʿānin tasmū bi l-insān.
وَنَحْنُ عَلَى أَعْتَابِ الشَّهْرِ الْفَضِيل، نَسْتَحْضِرُ خُطْبَةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ (ص) فِي اسْتِقْبَالِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ الْمُبَارَك، وَمَا فِيهَا مِن مَّحَطَّاتٍ وَتَعَالِيمَ وَتَوْجِيهَاتٍ رُوحِيَّةٍ وَأَخْلَاقِيَّةٍ نَافِعَة، تَلْفِتُ إِلَى عَظِيمِ مَا يَحْمِلُهُ هَذَا الشَّهْرُ الْكَرِيمُ مِن مَّعَانٍ تَسْمُو بِالْإِنْسَان.
Reported from the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) that he said: "Indeed, the Messenger of Allah (p.) addressed us one day, saying:
ʿAn Amīri l-muʾminīn (ʿalayhi s-salām) qāla: "Inna Rasūla llāhi (p.) khaṭabanā dhāta yawmin fa-qāla:
عَنْ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ) قَالَ: "إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ (ص) خَطَبَنَا ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ فَقَالَ:
'O people! Indeed, the month of Allah has come upon you with blessing, mercy, and forgiveness. A month which, with Allah, is the best of months; its days the best of days; its nights the best of nights; and its hours the best of hours.
Ayyuhā n-nās! Innahu qad aqbala ilaykum shahru llāhi bi l-barakati wa r-raḥmati wa l-maghfirah. Shahrun huwa ʿinda llāhi afḍalu sh-shuhūr, wa ayyāmuhu afḍalu l-ayyām, wa layālīhi afḍalu l-layālī, wa sāʿātuhu afḍalu s-sāʿāt.
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! إِنَّهُ قَدْ أَقْبَلَ إِلَيْكُمْ شَهْرُ اللَّهِ بِالْبَرَكَةِ وَالرَّحْمَةِ وَالْمَغْفِرَةِ. شَهْرٌ هُوَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَفْضَلُ الشُّهُورِ، وَأَيَّامُهُ أَفْضَلُ الأَيَّامِ، وَلَيَالِيهِ أَفْضَلُ اللَّيَالِي، وَسَاعَاتُهُ أَفْضَلُ السَّاعَاتِ.
It is a month in which you have been invited to the hospitality of Allah and have been made, in it, among the people of Allah's nobility. Your breaths in it are glorification (tasbīḥ), your sleep in it is worship, your deeds in it are accepted, and your supplications in it are answered. So ask Allah, your Lord, with sincere intentions and pure hearts to enable you to fast it and to recite His Book. For indeed, the wretched one is he who is deprived of Allah's forgiveness in this great month. And remember, with your hunger and thirst in it, the hunger and thirst of the Day of Resurrection.
Huwa shahrun duʿītum fīhi ilā ḍiyāfati llāh, wa juʿiltum fīhi min ahli karāmati llāh. Anfāsukum fīhi tasbīḥ, wa nawmukum fīhi ʿibādah, wa ʿamalukum fīhi maqbūl, wa duʿāʾukum fīhi mustajāb, fa-s'alū llāha rabbakum bi-niyyātin ṣādiqatin, wa qulūbin ṭāhiratin, an yuwaffiqakum li-ṣiyāmihi, wa tilāwati kitābihi, fa-inna sh-shaqiya man ḥurima ghufrāna llāhi fī hādhā sh-shahri l-ʿaẓīm. Wa udhkurū bi-jūʿikum wa ʿaṭashikum fīhi, jūʿa yawmi l-qiyāmati wa ʿaṭashah.
هُوَ شَهْرٌ دُعِيتُمْ فِيهِ إِلَى ضِيَافَةِ اللَّهِ، وَجُعِلْتُمْ فِيهِ مِنْ أَهْلِ كَرَامَةِ اللَّهِ. أَنْفَاسُكُمْ فِيهِ تَسْبِيحٌ، وَنَوْمُكُمْ فِيهِ عِبَادَةٌ، وَعَمَلُكُمْ فِيهِ مَقْبُولٌ، وَدُعَاؤُكُمْ فِيهِ مُسْتَجَابٌ، فَاسْأَلُوا اللَّهَ رَبَّكُمْ بِنِيَّاتٍ صَادِقَةٍ، وَقُلُوبٍ طَاهِرَةٍ، أَنْ يُوَفِّقَكُمْ لِصِيَامِهِ، وَتِلَاوَةِ كِتَابِهِ، فَإِنَّ الشَّقِيَّ مَنْ حُرِمَ غُفْرَانَ اللَّهِ فِي هَذَا الشَّهْرِ الْعَظِيمِ. وَاذْكُرُوا بِجُوعِكُمْ وَعَطَشِكُمْ فِيهِ، جُوعَ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَعَطَشَهُ.
Give charity to your poor and needy; honor your elders; have mercy on your young ones; maintain ties with your kinship; guard your tongues; lower your eyes from what is unlawful to look upon; and [guard] your ears from what is unlawful to listen to. Show compassion to the orphans of others, so compassion may be shown to your orphans. Repent to Allah from your sins, and raise your hands to Him in supplication at the times of your prayers, for these are the best of hours. In these hours, Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, looks upon His servants with mercy, answering them when they whisper to Him, responding to them when they call upon Him, granting them when they ask of Him, and answering their prayers when they supplicate to Him.
Wa taṣaddaqū ʿalā fuqarāʾikum wa masākīnikum, wa waqqirū kibārakum, wa rḥamū ṣighārakum, wa ṣilū arḥāmakum, wa ḥfaẓū alsinatakum, wa ghuḍḍū ʿammā lā yaḥillu n-naẓaru ilayhi abṣārakum, wa ʿammā lā yaḥillu l-istimāʿu ilayhi asmāʿakum. Wa taḥannanū ʿalā aytāmi n-nasi yutaḥannan ʿalā aytāmikum, wa tūbū ilā llāhi min dhunūbikum, wa rfaʿū ilayhi aydiyakum bi-d-duʿāʾi fī awqāti ṣalātikum, fa-innahā afḍalu s-sāʿāt, yanẓuru llāhu ʿazza wa jalla fīhā bi-r-raḥmati ilā ʿibādihi, yujībuhum idhā nājawhu, wa yulabbīhim idhā nādawhu, wa yuʿṭīhim idhā saʾalūhu, wa yastajību lahum idhā daʿawhu.
وَتَصَدَّقُوا عَلَى فُقَرَائِكُمْ وَمَسَاكِينِكُمْ، وَوَقِّرُوا كِبَارَكُمْ، وَارْحَمُوا صِغَارَكُمْ، وَصِلُوا أَرْحَامَكُمْ، وَاحْفَظُوا أَلْسِنَتَكُمْ، وَغُضُّوا عَمَّا لَا يَحِلُّ النَّظَرُ إِلَيْهِ أَبْصَارَكُمْ، وَعَمَّا لَا يَحِلُّ الِاسْتِمَاعُ إِلَيْهِ أَسْمَاعَكُمْ. وَتَحَنَّنُوا عَلَى أَيْتَامِ النَّاسِ يُتَحَنَّنْ عَلَى أَيْتَامِكُمْ، وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ مِن ذُنُوبِكُمْ، وَارْفَعُوا إِلَيْهِ أَيْدِيَكُم بِالدُّعَاءِ فِي أَوْقَاتِ صَلَاتِكُمْ، فَإِنَّهَا أَفْضَلُ السَّاعَاتِ، يَنْظُرُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِيهَا بِالرَّحْمَةِ إِلَى عِبَادِهِ، يُجِيبُهُمْ إِذَا نَاجَوْهُ، وَيُلَبِّيهِمْ إِذَا نَادَوْهُ، وَيُعْطِيهِمْ إِذَا سَأَلُوهُ، وَيَسْتَجِيبُ لَهُمْ إِذَا دَعَوْهُ.
O people! Indeed, your souls are pledged for your deeds, so redeem them through your seeking of forgiveness. Your backs are heavy with your burdens (of sins), so lighten them by prolonging your prostrations. And know that Allah has sworn by His Might that He will not punish those who pray and prostrate, and that He will not terrify them with the Fire on the Day when mankind will stand before the Lord of the worlds.
Ayyuhā n-nās! Inna anfusakum marhūnatum bi-aʿmālikum, fa-fukkūhā bi-stighfārikum, wa ẓuhūrukum thaqīlatun min awzārikum, fa-khaffifū ʿanhā bi-ṭūli sujūdikum. Wa ʿlamū anna llāha aqsama bi-ʿizzatihi an lā yuʿadhdhiba l-muṣallīna wa s-sājidīn, wa an lā yurawwiʿahum bi-n-nāri yawma yaqūmu n-nāsu li-rabbi l-ʿālamīn.
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! إِنَّ أَنْفُسَكُمْ مَرْهُونَةٌ بِأَعْمَالِكُمْ، فَفُكُّوهَا بِاسْتِغْفَارِكُمْ، وَظُهُورَكُمْ ثَقِيلَةٌ مِنْ أَوْزَارِكُمْ، فَخَفِّفُوا عَنْهَا بِطُولِ سُجُودِكُمْ. وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ أَقْسَمَ بِعِزَّتِهِ أَنْ لَا يُعَذِّبَ الْمُصَلِّينَ وَالسَّاجِدِينَ، وَأَنْ لَا يُرَوِّعَهُمْ بِالنَّارِ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ النَّاسُ لِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ.
O people! Whoever among you provides ifṭār (the meal to break the fast) to a believing faster in this month, then for that, with Allah, is the reward of freeing a slave and forgiveness for his past sins.' It was asked: 'O Messenger of Allah (p.), not all of us are able to do that.' He (p.) replied: 'Protect yourselves from the Fire, even if with half a date; protect yourselves from the Fire, even if with a drink of water.'
Ayyuhā n-nās! Man faṭṭara minkum ṣāʾiman muʾminan fī hādhā sh-shahr, kāna lahu bi-dhālika ʿinda llāhi ʿitqu nasamatin, wa maghfiratun li-mā maḍā min dhunūbih. Qīla: yā Rasūla llāh (p.), fa-laysa kullunā yaqdiru ʿalā dhālik, fa-qāla (p.): ittaqū n-nāra wa law bi-shiqqi tamrah, ittaqū n-nāra wa law bi-sharbatin min māʾ.
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! مَنْ فَطَّرَ مِنْكُمْ صَائِماً مُؤْمِناً فِي هَذَا الشَّهْرِ، كَانَ لَهُ بِذَلِكَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عِتْقُ نَسَمَةٍ، وَمَغْفِرَةٌ لِمَا مَضَى مِن ذُنُوبِهِ. قِيلَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ (ص)، فَلَيْسَ كُلُّنَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ، فَقَالَ (ص): اتَّقُوا النَّارَ وَلَوْ بِشِقِّ تَمْرَةٍ، اتَّقُوا النَّارَ وَلَوْ بِشَرْبَةٍ مِن مَاءٍ.
O people! Whoever among you improves his character during this month, it will be a means for him to pass across the Bridge (Ṣirāṭ) on the Day when footsteps slip. Whoever lightens the burden of those whom his right hand possesses (i.e., servants or employees) during this month, Allah will lighten his reckoning. Whoever restrains his evil during this month, Allah will restrain His wrath from him on the Day he meets Him. Whoever honors an orphan during this month, Allah will honor him on the Day he meets Him.
Ayyuhā n-nās! Man ḥassana minkum fī hādhā sh-shahri khuluqahu, kāna lahu jawāzan ʿalā ṣ-ṣirāṭi yawma tazillu fīhi l-aqdām. Wa man khaffafa fī hādhā sh-shahri ʿammā malakat yamīnuhu, khaffafa llāhu ʿalayhi ḥisābahu. Wa man kaffa fīhi sharrahu, kaffa llāhu ʿanhu ghaḍabahu yawma yalqāh. Wa man akrama fīhi yatīman, akramahu llāhu yawma yalqāh.
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! مَنْ حَسَّنَ مِنْكُمْ فِي هَذَا الشَّهْرِ خُلُقَهُ، كَانَ لَهُ جَوَازاً عَلَى الصِّرَاطِ يَوْمَ تَزِلُّ فِيهِ الأَقْدَامُ. وَمَنْ خَفَّفَ فِي هَذَا الشَّهْرِ عَمَّا مَلَكَتْ يَمِينُهُ، خَفَّفَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ حِسَابَهُ. وَمَنْ كَفَّ فِيهِ شَرَّهُ، كَفَّ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ غَضَبَهُ يَوْمَ يَلْقَاهُ. وَمَنْ أَكْرَمَ فِيهِ يَتِيماً، أَكْرَمَهُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ يَلْقَاهُ.
Whoever maintains ties of kinship during this month, Allah will connect him with His mercy on the Day he meets Him. Whoever severs ties of kinship during this month, Allah will sever His mercy from him on the Day he meets Him. Whoever performs a supererogatory prayer (nāfilah) during this month, Allah will record for him freedom from the Fire. Whoever performs an obligatory act (farīḍah) during it, for him is the reward of one who performed seventy obligatory acts in any other month.
Wa man waṣala fīhi raḥimahu waṣalahu llāhu bi-raḥmatihi yawma yalqāh. Wa man qaṭaʿa fīhi raḥimahu qaṭaʿa llāhu ʿanhu raḥmatahu yawma yalqāh. Wa man taṭawwaʿa fīhi bi-ṣalātin kataba llāhu lahu barāʾatan mina n-nār. Wa man addā fīhi farīḍatan kāna lahu thawābu man addā sabʿīna farīḍatan fīmā siwāhu mina sh-shuhūr.
وَمَنْ وَصَلَ فِيهِ رَحِمَهُ وَصَلَهُ اللَّهُ بِرَحْمَتِهِ يَوْمَ يَلْقَاهُ. وَمَنْ قَطَعَ فِيهِ رَحِمَهُ قَطَعَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ رَحْمَتَهُ يَوْمَ يَلْقَاهُ. وَمَنْ تَطَوَّعَ فِيهِ بِصَلَاةٍ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بَرَاءَةً مِنَ النَّارِ. وَمَنْ أَدَّى فِيهِ فَرْضاً كَانَ لَهُ ثَوَابُ مَنْ أَدَّى سَبْعِينَ فَرِيضَةً فِيمَا سِوَاهُ مِنَ الشُّهُورِ.
Whoever sends abundant blessings (ṣalāh) upon me during it, Allah will make heavy his scales on the Day when scales are light. Whoever recites a single verse of the Qur'an during it, for him is the reward of one who completed the entire Qur'an (khatam) in other months.
Wa man akthara fīhi mina ṣ-ṣalāti ʿalayya, thaqqala llāhu mīzānahu yawma takhiffu l-mawāzīn. Wa man talā fīhi āyatan mina l-qurʾāni, kāna lahu mithlu ajri man khatama l-qurʾāna fī ghayrihi mina sh-shuhūr.
وَمَنْ أَكْثَرَ فِيهِ مِنَ الصَّلَاةِ عَلَيَّ، ثَقَّلَ اللَّهُ مِيزَانَهُ يَوْمَ تَخِفُّ الْمَوَازِينُ. وَمَنْ تَلَا فِيهِ آيَةً مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ، كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِ مَنْ خَتَمَ الْقُرْآنَ فِي غَيْرِهِ مِنَ الشُّهُورِ.
O people! Indeed, the gates of the Gardens (Jinān) are opened in this month, so ask your Lord not to close them upon you. The gates of the Fires (Nīrān) are closed, so ask your Lord not to open them upon you. And the devils are chained, so ask your Lord not to give them mastery over you.'"
Ayyuhā n-nās! Inna abwāba l-jināni fī hādhā sh-shahri mufattahah, fa-s'alū rabbakum an lā yughalliqahā ʿankum. Wa abwāba n-nīrāni mughallaqah, fa-s'alū rabbakum an lā yufattihahā ʿalaykum. Wa sh-shayāṭīna maghlūlah, fa-s'alū rabbakum an lā yusalliṭahā ʿalaykum."
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! إِنَّ أَبْوَابَ الْجِنَانِ فِي هَذَا الشَّهْرِ مُفَتَّحَةٌ، فَاسْأَلُوا رَبَّكُمْ أَنْ لَا يُغَلِّقَهَا عَنْكُمْ. وَأَبْوَابَ النِّيرَانِ مُغَلَّقَةٌ، فَاسْأَلُوا رَبَّكُمْ أَنْ لَا يُفَتِّحَهَا عَلَيْكُمْ. وَالشَّيَاطِينَ مَغْلُولَةٌ، فَاسْأَلُوا رَبَّكُمْ أَنْ لَا يُسَلِّطَهَا عَلَيْكُمْ."