Friday, 11 July 2014

The virtues of the month of Shaba'n'1435


Dear brothers! This is the 1st day of the month of Sha’ban. The month of Sha’ban is the eighth Arabic month. Today, I was talking in our bangla khutbah the Virtues of the Month of Sha’ban. When the month of Sha’ban comes prophet sw. used to emphasise its importance. In a Hadith he said “The annual actions/deeds are presents to Allah swt. on the month of Sha’ban”
Dear brothers! This is the month where we can be trained ourselves for the greatest month of Ramadan. The month of Ramadan is the greatest month than any other months. The month of Ramadan where we can have blessings of Allah swt. and likewise forgiveness, salvation from the hellfire and this is the month we have to be ready to get those significant rewards.

Today, we will discuss how the prophet sw. used to get ready for the month of Ramadan and how we can prepare ourselves for the sacret month of Ramadan.

Dear brothers! If we look the Ahaadeeth of Prophet sw. we can see how he tried to be prepared for the month of Ramadan. When the month of Rajab starts prophet sw. used say this Dua O Allah swt make the month of Rajab and sha’ban blessed months and grant us life to make it to Ramadan and when the month Of Sha’ban comes he used to do more Ibaadah than any other months, except the month of Ramadan.

He used to do fast repeatedly, he used to increase the numbers of nawafil prayers specially, the tahajjud prayers. In a hadith the wife of prophet sw. aysha ra. Saying “I never saw the messenger of Allah swt. did fast for a complete month except, Ramadan, I never saw him did more fast in any month than he did in the month of Sha’ban” (bukhari and muslim)
There is another hadith making it clear how the prophet sw used to aware of the month of Sha’ban. Narrated by Usama ibn zyd ra. He said I asked him O messenger of Allah swt. I didn’t see you fasting in any month as you do in the month of Sha’ban. He replied people neglect this month which is between the month of Rajab and Ramadan But,this is the month where the peoples  actions/deeds are presents to Allah swt. So, I like my deeds to be presented while I’m Fasting” (Abu dawood/nasaee)

Dear brothers! This is how and that is why the prophet used to do more Ibadah in the month of Sha’ban than any other months except, the Ramadan.

Now the Question is how can we get ready for the month of Ramadan and what type of Ibadah should we do?
There are some ways which we can follow:

1. The first thing what we have to do is, we should be very caring about our basic/ fard Ibadah like the 5time prayers if still we are not aware of. The 5time prayers it’s something you can’t make any excuse to do it. You can’t ignore it neither doing 3/2times. We have to do 5times. Because, If you do nawafill Ibaadah entire of your life still it can’t be compared with a single fard prayer. Also, as a preparation for the Ramadan first thing what we should do is avoiding all kind of Haram involvements.

2. Try to do more fasting in this month. for example: fully first half of sha’ban or Mondays, Thursdays or 13th, 14th, 15th of this month. But, Not only just day before the Ramadn. Specially, If any one has any Due fasting like someone missed some sawm in the last year because of illness or safar he should do that first.

3. Try to do sincere repentance/ tawbah for the past.  Our faith sometimes weakens and we become overwhelmed by our desires. The shaytaan makes sin attractive to us, so we fall into things that Allah ‘azza wajal has forbidden. Now the question is not whether or not you will sin, because mistakes are in fact part of our nature. So, we should repentance every day. Prophet sw used to do tawobah 100 times in a day.

The repentance is one of the most beloved acts of worship to Allah swt.  Allah says: … Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves." [Quran, 2:222]

What we should know when we are doing tawba

1. We have to Regret for our all the past sins. 2. Quitting all kind of haram involvements. Because, Allah swt. doesn’t accept any Ibadah while someone is involve in Haram.  3. We have to promise and determined not to do any bad things anymore.  4. If the sin is related with others right then first we have to give them back their rights.
What Alla swt saying about the result of repentance 66:8
O you who have believed, repent to Allah with sincere repentance. Perhaps your Lord will remove from you your misdeeds and admit you into gardens beneath which rivers flow..”

The gate of forgiveness is still open for us we don’t need to be down whatever mistakes we have done, we just need to wake up and repent.

4. To get ready for the month of Ramadan we should do more voluntary prayer (17:79) like tahajjud at least 2 Rakah before Fazar and gradually, increase the numbers of rakah. Also, we should recite the holy Qur’an at least one ju’z or one chapter with meaning.8:2when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely”
Dear brothers! The greatest month of Ramadan is Very closed to us, just one month away from us. We should take it seriously and be prepared physically, mentally, and also, we should make our family prepared for the month of Ramadan.

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