In this Khutbah Ustaadh Rayaan gives us a stark reminder that we need to remain steadfast, even after the month of Ramadhaan has passed.
We must realise that Ramadhaan has left but we are still here.
Do not make false hopes in yourself that something external will automatically change you, that it will make you good without any effort. Don’t be of those that are dragged along by the dunya.
Allaah has blessed us with a whole month where it is easy for us to change, for us to rectify ourselves, to sink in a firmly rooted intention. We should strive to make a plan of action of what to do after Ramadhaan.
Let us continue our good deeds after Ramadhaan and let us not let the passing of Ramadhaan cause the decrease of our deeds.
Let us protect ourselves from what takes us away from the good deeds and let us take the means to self rectification.
It is neither their meat nor their blood [i.e. the animals we sacrifice] that reaches Allah, but it is piety from you that reaches Him. Thus have We made them subject to you that you may magnify Allah for His Guidance to you. And give glad tidings (O Muhammad) to the Muhsinun (doers of good). [Surah Al-Hajj. Ayah 37]
“It is neither their meat nor their blood”- meaning: The aim [or goal] behind them [i.e. the animals slaughtered as sacrifice] is not just to merely slaughter them, for neither does their meat nor blood reach Allaah because Allaah is [الْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ -The Independent One Who is Free of all Needs and The One Who is Deservedly Praised (Ref A)]; rather what reaches Allaah is the sincerity [in your hearts in relation to the performance of the deed]; hope for Allaah’s reward and having a righteous intention.
“But it is piety from you that reaches Him”.
So with regards to this, there is an urge towards sincerity in [the act] of sacrifice and that one’s intention is to seek the Face of Allaah [alone], and not out of boasting, show off and to be heard; nor merely following a custom. Likewise, this is [the goal behind] all acts of worship, for if they are not connected to sincerity and piety, then they are similar to skins that have no flesh and a body that has no soul.
[Abridged and Slightly paraphrased..Source: Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan’ by Imaam Sadi (rahimahullaah). Publisher Daar Ibn Hazm 1st ed. 1424 (Year 2003)] [NB: The Translation of (الْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ) was taken from the poster titled: ‘The Beautiful Names of Allaah’- Distributors: SPubs (Salafipublications)]
