Title of the Sermon: Ramadan of Victory and Aid
Elements of the Sermon:
Piety and patience are conditions for victory and aid.
Ramadan is the month of victories.
The relationship between victory and fasting.
The mujahid is the one who strives against his own self.
Praise be to Allah, the Protector, the Supporter, who has taken under His care His devout and patient servants, promising them victory and empowerment. I bear witness that Muhammad is Allah's servant and messenger, the leader of the devout, the commander of the glowing and radiant, may Allah exalt him and grant him peace abundantly until the Day of Judgment. As for what follows,
Fear Allah, O servants of Allah, with true piety, and observe Him in secret and in openness:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ
"O you who believe, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him]."
O servants of Allah:
The Day of Distinction, the day of Badr, in which Allah honored His messenger ﷺ and the believers, and humiliated polytheism and the polytheists.
In the second year of the migration of the best of creation ﷺ, in the blessed month of Ramadan, Allah sent down His forces, reinforcements fighting alongside the believers, thus manifesting His religion, and justifying His victory.
The believers were a blessed group, few in number and not heavily armed, yet they were earnestly imploring their Lord for His support, sincere in their desire to aid His cause and elevate His word. Allah promised them victory and support under two conditions, as He, the Exalted, said:
َبلى إِنْ تَصْبِرُوا وَتَتَّقُوا وَيَأْتُوكُمْ مِنْ فَوْرِهِمْ هَذَا يُمْدِدْكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ بِخَمْسَةِ آلَافٍ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ مُسَوِّمِينَ
"Yes, if you remain patient and conscious of Allah and the enemy comes rushing at you; your Lord will reinforce you with five thousand angels having marks [of distinction]."
Patience and piety are the conditions for victory, support, and reinforcement.
O servants of Allah:
The battle between the people of faith and the people of disbelief has never ceased. The hearts of the disbelievers are filled with rage and hatred towards the people of faith, plotting against them day and night, and subjecting them to harm in their lives and wealth.
The path to victory and support over the disbelievers and the hypocrites is only through patience and piety, a meaning affirmed by Allah in His Book, a promise He made to His servants, one that will never fail or change. He, the Exalted, said:
إِنْ تَمْسَسْكُمْ حَسَنَةٌ تَسُؤْهُمْ وَإِنْ تُصِبْكُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ يَفْرَحُوا بِهَا وَإِنْ تَصْبِرُوا وَتَتَّقُوا لَا يَضُرُّكُمْ كَيْدُهُمْ شَيْئًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطٌ
"If something good touches you, it distresses them; but if harm strikes you, they rejoice at it. And if you are patient and fear Allah, their scheme will not harm you at all. Indeed, Allah is encompassing of what they do."
And He said:
لَتُبْلَوُنَّ فِي أَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنْفُسِكُمْ وَلَتَسْمَعُنَّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ وَمِنَ الَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا أَذًى كَثِيرًا وَإِنْ تَصْبِرُوا وَتَتَّقُوا فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ
"You will surely be tested in your possessions and in yourselves. And you will surely hear from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate others with Allah much harm. But if you are patient and fear Allah - indeed, that is of the matters [worthy] of determination."
قَالَ مُوسَى لِقَوْمِهِ اسْتَعِينُوا بِاللَّهِ وَاصْبِرُوا إِنَّ الْأَرْضَ لِلَّهِ يُورِثُهَا مَنْ يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
"Moses said to his people, 'Seek help through Allah and be patient. Indeed, the earth belongs to Allah. He grants its inheritance to whom He wills of His servants. And the outcome is for the righteous.'"
Here is Joseph the Truthful, peace be upon him, who faced various plots and harms throughout his life, yet honor, victory, and empowerment were his share. The secret itself is patience and piety. He stood among his brothers who conspired against him and separated him from his father, and then Allah reunited them, honoring him nobly to reveal the secret:
إِنَّهُ مَنْ يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
"Indeed, whoever fears Allah and is patient, then indeed, Allah does not waste the reward of the doers of good."
Therefore, Allah concluded Surah Al-Imran - the Surah of victory over desires and doubts - with the advice of both for those desiring success, saying:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اصْبِرُوا وَصَابِرُوا وَرَابِطُوا وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
"O you who believe, persevere and endure and remain stationed and fear Allah that you may be successful."
O servants of Allah:
We are on the threshold of the month of Ramadan, the month of patience, as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ called it. That month in which Allah granted victory to His Prophet ﷺ and his companions for their belief and piety. He supported them on the day of Badr, and Allah opened Mecca for them in it. And Allah's support for the nation continued after them in many instances:
In Ramadan, Allah opened Andalusia, the lost paradise, and in it, al-Mu'tasim triumphed for the honor of the noble Muslim woman and opened Amorium.
In Ramadan was the Battle of Zalaca, which kept Islam and its people in Andalus for four centuries.
In Ramadan was the Battle of Ain Jalut, in which Allah repelled the Mongols and honored His soldiers and believing servants.
In Ramadan was the Battle of the Tenth of Ramadan, and the defeat of the Jews, the scattered cursed ones.
You might now ask: What is the connection between victory and fasting?
It is the same reason: piety and patience. The trilogy of victory: doing what is commanded, avoiding what is forbidden, and that is piety, and patience with what is destined. And indeed, Allah combined for His servants in Ramadan both: piety and patience. As for piety, it is the ultimate goal for which Allah legislated fasting, saying:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
"O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you that you may become righteous."
It is indeed the essence of achieving servitude to Allah, to become a devout servant. Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا 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."
Righteousness stems from faith and certainty in Allah, in His knowledge, meeting Him, His rewards, and His punishments, such that a barrier exists between the servant and committing prohibitions, a protection that saves from Allah's punishment through performing what is commanded and abstaining from what is prohibited. Did not Allah the Most High say:
وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّكُمْ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ
"And fear Allah, and know that you will be gathered to Him"?
وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّكُمْ مُلَاقُوهُ
"And fear Allah, and know that you are to meet Him"?
وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
"And fear Allah, and know that Allah is All-Knowing about everything"?
وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ
"And fear Allah, and know that Allah is severe in punishment"?
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمْ وَاخْشَوْا يَوْمًا لَا يَجْزِي وَالِدٌ عَنْ وَلَدِهِ وَلَا مَوْلُودٌ هُوَ جَازٍ عَنْ وَالِدِهِ شَيْئًا إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ فَلَا تَغُرَّنَّكُمُ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا وَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُمْ بِاللَّهِ الْغَرُورُ
"O mankind, fear your Lord and fear a Day when no father will avail his son, nor will a son avail his father at all. Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth, so let not the worldly life delude you, and be not deceived about Allah by the Deceiver"?
And as for patience, because Ramadan is the month of patience as the Prophet ﷺ named it, and he said, "Know that victory comes with patience." Reported by Ahmad.
There are two battles: the first is between the servant and the desires and whims of himself. Whoever overcomes his self, not being enslaved by it, and forbids it from whims, will be victorious when confronting the enemies of Allah. And whoever is defeated by his whims, his defeat against the enemies is more likely. A servant cannot stand firm in the battlefield unless he is victorious in the first battle and the first struggle.
The world, with its desires and pleasures, is extremely adorned, clinging to souls. Many people have sold their hereafter for a little of the worldly life, not enduring away from their desires, rushing towards them like moths. Some fall for a woman, others for money, and another for power, with the common denominator being the enslavement to the worldly life. The fall before the enemies was preceded by a fall before selves.
Here comes the month of Ramadan to remind the believing servant that he is a servant to Allah alone, and that what Allah has commanded him is within his capacity, and that he can endure and thus leave what is lawful and good for most of his day, but for Allah the Exalted and for His sake, so he can leave what is unlawful and vile for all his life for Allah and for His sake.
Allah the Exalted said in the divine hadith, "All the deeds of the son of Adam are for him, except fasting; it is for Me, and I will reward for it. He leaves his food, drink, and desires for My sake." Reported by Bukhari and Muslim.
When leaving what the soul desires for the sake of Allah, it becomes easier for the servant according to his love, glorification of Allah, and his fear of Him, hence Allah the Exalted said:
وَلِرَبِّكَ فَاصْبِرْ
"So be patient for the sake of your Lord."
Indeed, the fasting of Ramadan liberates the servant from his enslavement to himself and his capitulation to his desires, making him a master who possesses them and is not possessed by them. Those who have mastered their selves and protected it from the unlawful are the masters who can endure in the face of swords and cannon fire.
Indeed, he who cannot endure staying away from the unlawful, how can he endure when heads and limbs are flying? Struggling against the self and fighting the enemies requires patience, which leads to victory. And patience's key is certainty in Allah, His immense favor, and reward.
The Prophet ﷺ said, "O people, do not wish to meet the enemy, and ask Allah for wellbeing. But when you meet them, be patient, and know that Paradise is under the shades of swords." Reported by Bukhari and Muslim.
Here is the believing group from the companions of Talut, seeing the roaring crowds of Allah's enemies, but their certainty in Allah and meeting Him is what made them patient before their enemy. Allah said:
﴿قَالَ الَّذِينَ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُمْ مُلَاقُو اللَّهِ كَمْ مِنْ فِئَةٍ قَلِيلَةٍ غَلَبَتْ فِئَةً كَثِيرَةً بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ * وَلَمَّا بَرَزُوا لِجَالُوتَ وَجُنُودِهِ قَالُوا رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَانْصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ * فَهَزَمُوهُمْ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ﴾
"Those who believed that they will meet Allah, how many a small group overcame a large group by Allah's permission. And Allah is with the patient. And when they advanced to meet Goliath and his troops, they said, 'Our Lord, pour upon us patience and plant firmly our feet and give us victory over the disbelieving people.' So they defeated them by permission of Allah."
May Allah bless me and you in the Great Quran, and benefit me and you with the verses and the Wise Remembrance, and I seek Allah's forgiveness for me and for you, so seek His forgiveness, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, his companions, and those who follow him. Servants of Allah:
The Prophet ﷺ said: "When Allah created Paradise and Hell, He sent Gabriel to Paradise and said: 'Look at it and at what I have prepared for its inhabitants.' He came to it, looked at it and at what Allah had prepared for its inhabitants, and returned to Him and said: 'By Your glory, no one hears of it but will enter it.' So, He ordered it to be surrounded by hardships, and said: 'Go back to it and look at what I have prepared for its inhabitants.' He returned to it and found it surrounded by hardships, then returned and said: 'By Your glory, I fear that no one will enter it.' He said: 'Go to Hell and look at it and what I have prepared for its inhabitants.' There it was, piled one part on top of another. He returned and said: 'By Your glory, no one who hears of it will enter it.' So, He ordered it to be surrounded by desires, then said: 'Go back to it.' He went back to it and said: 'By Your glory, I fear that no one will escape from entering it.'" Reported by Tirmidhi.
Paradise is surrounded by hardships, and Hell is surrounded by desires. The only way to reach Paradise and escape from Hell is through piety and patience over hardships and against desires. This is a form of jihad.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "The Mujahid (fighter) is the one who strives against himself in obedience to Allah." Reported by Ahmad.
Ramadan, the month of jihad and piety, the month of patience and victory, the month of mercy and emancipation from the fire, has come to you.
O Lord, grant our souls their piety and purify them; You are the best to purify them. You are their guardian and master.
O Allah, support Your servants who strive in Your cause, destroy the murderous, criminal Jews, and save Your weak servants with Your mercy.
O Allah, guide our leader to what You love and are pleased with, and lead him to righteousness and piety. Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
Servants of Allah: Remember Allah with much remembrance, and glorify Him in the morning and the evening. And our last call is that all praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.
