وَاعْلَمُٓوا اَنَّـمَٓا اَمْوَالُكُمْ وَاَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌۙ وَاَنَّ اللّٰهَ عِنْدَهُٓ اَجْرٌ عَظ۪يمٌ۟

 

In the verse I have recited, Allah Almighty enjoins: “The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.”[1]

Brothers and Sisters!

The Prophet (s.a.w.) said to Abdullah bin Masud one day: “O Abdullah, recite the Qur'an to me. I would like to hear it from you.” Abdullah responded: “O Allah's Messenger, shall I recite the Qur'an to you while it has been revealed to your heart?” Allah’s Apostle said: “I like to hear it from another person. Even more from you.” Then, Abdullah began to recite Surat An-Nisa. He recited the verses about orphans. Eventually, when he recited the verse “How will it be, then, when We bring from every people a witness and bring you as a witness against these?”[2] Eyes of the Messenger of Grace were overflowing with tears. And our Prophet said, “Enough for the present!”[3]

Brothers and Sisters!

And our book of compassion, the Holy Quran, which influences the believing hearts so deeply when recited, is a great gift to us from the holy Ramadan. Our Gracious Book began to be revealed on a Ramadan day with the command “Recite!” at Hira. It is a guidance for the true path and a means of mercy that brings people to the right way. Quran is our book of life that makes life meaningful and enables us to keep our hopes alive for today and tomorrow. Quran is the most eloquent of words, the biggest treasure of our creator, and His greatest blessing to us, His servants. Quran is the divine guide that introduces a person His Lord, their self, and their environment. Quran is the book of service that turns a believer’s fortune and poverty and joy and sorrow into worship. Quran has elevated and dignified the human being with its graceful messages. Allah favored many nations and communities with this Graceful Book. Those who turned towards it have found salvation, and those who turned away from it have faced disappointment.

Brothers and Sisters!

Our great book of Quran has introduced universal values to humankind and blessed them with high values. From the first moment of its revelation, it has invited the entire humanity to truth, justice, mercy, morals, and virtue. It has taught us how to distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong, beautiful and ugly, and good deed and evil. It was this book which has brought our mind closer to our heart. And it has brought our heart closer to our mind. It was this book that has brought our soul closer to our body. It has created a oneness in us and invited us to believe in oneness.

Brothers and Sisters!

Our book the Holy Quran has taught us how to be a good servant. It has reminded us that we were not created randomly, that we were reverend creatures with responsibilities. It has taught us how to be a good son or daughter. It said, “Do not even whine at your parents.” It said, “You cannot lift the wings of grace and compassion from over your parents.” It has taught us to show compassion towards our wise elderlies. It has taught us how to be a good father, a good mother. It has taught us how to be a good spouse, a good friend, a good neighbor. It has taught us how to make orphans happy, how to put a smile on the faces of our handicapped brothers and sisters, and how to embrace our refugee guests with a warm welcome. 

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

Then come! let us prosper our hearts, our minds, and our lives with Quran in the month of Quran, in the season of mercy, abundance, and grace. Let us not deprive our hearts of the messages and sentiments of this great book. Let us remember how Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.) warned us saying, “Indeed, the one who does not have the Qur'an inside his heart is like a ruined house.”[4] Let us meet Quran’s world of truth. Let us send Quran down to the heavens of our heart again, which had been sent down to the heavens of the Earth in this month. Let us reinforce our love for Quran and awareness of it with our muqabla which is an important Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah. Let us remember that the more we head towards the Holy Quran the wider it generously opens all its doors and horizons for us. It will welcome us in spiritual palaces that gives one peace and bliss.

Brothers and Sisters! 

I wish Allah’s mercy upon security forces and citizens martyred at heinous terror attacks in various cities of our country which were carried out by enemies of humanity who have lost their conscience and values even on holy days of Ramadan which embrace all humanity with their grace. And I wish a swift recovery to the injured. I vehemently condemn those who committed these sinister attacks that martyred and injured our brothers and sisters. I wish patience, fortitude, and offer my condolences to our nation and our brothers and sisters who lost their loved ones in these deplorable attacks that have grieved us. 

I would like to conclude my khutbah from a hadith of our Prophet (s.a.w.): “The best of word is the word of Allah and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad.” [5]

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