------- Forwarded Message Follows -------

The Prophet´s (SAW) Khutbah on The Last Friday of Shab´an on the REception
of the Month of Rhamadan

"o People!  Indeed ahead of you is the blessed month of Allah. A month of
blessing, mercy and forgiveness.  A month which invites you to be the guests
of Allah and invites you to be one of those near Him.  Each breath you take
glorifies Him; your sleep is worship, your deeds are accepted and your
supplications are answered.  So, ask Allah, your Lord, to give you a sound
body and an enlightened heart so you may be able to fast and recite this
Book, for only he is unhappy who is devoid of Allah´s forgiveness during
this great month.  Remember the hunger and thirst of the day of Qiyama
(Judgement) with your hunger and thirst; give alms to the needy and poor,
honor your old, show kindness to the young ones, maintain relations with
your blood relations; guard your tongues, close your eyes to that which is
not permissible for your sight, close your ears to that which is forbidden
to hear, show compassion to the orphans of people so compassion may be shown
to your orphans. Repent to Allah for your sins and raise your hands in du´a
during these times, for they are the best of times and Allah looks towards
His creatures with kindness, replying to them during the hours and granting
their needs if He is asked.

"O People!  Indeed your souls are dependent on your deeds; free it with
istighfar (repentence), lighten its load by long prostrations and know that
Allah swears by His Might: that there is no punishment for the one who prays
and prostrates and he shall have no fear of the fire on the day when man
stands before the Lord of the Worlds.

"O People! One who gives iftar (meal) to a fasting person during this month
will be like one who has freed someone and his past sins will be forgiven."
Some of the people who were there then asked the Prophet (SAW), "What if not
all of us are able to invite those who are fasting?"  The Prophet (SAW)
replied, "Allah gives this reward even if the iftar is a drink of water."

"One who has good morals (Akhlaq) during this month will be able to pass the
Siraat on the day when feet will slip. One who covers the faults of others
will benefit in that Allah will curb His anger on the Day of Judgement."

"As for one who honors an orphan, Allah will honor him on the Day of
Judgement.  And for the one who spreads his kindness, Allah will spread His
Mercy over him on the Day of Judgement.  As for the one who cuts the ties of
relation, Allah will cut His Mercy from him.  Whosoever performs a
recommended prayer in this month, Allah will keep the fird of Hell away from
him. Whoever performs an obligatory prayer, Allah will reward him with
seventy prayers (worth) in this month. And, whoever prays a lot during this
month wil have his load lightened on the day of measure.  He who recites one
verse of the Holy Qu´ran wil be given the rewards of reciting the whole
Qur´an during other months.

"O People!  Indeed during this month the doors of heaven are open, therefore
ask Allah not to close them for you; the doors of hell are closed, so ask
Allah to keep them closed for you.  During this month shaitan is imprisoned,
so ask your Lord not to let him have power over you."

As narrated by Abu Huraira:
"Whoever establishes prayers furing the nights of Ramadan faithfully out of
sincere faith and hotping to attain Allah´s rewards (not for showing off),
all his past sins will be forgiven."

"Whoever observes fasts during the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith and
hoping to attain Allah´s rewards, all his past sins will be forgiven."

As Salaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah.  Ramadan Karim!!!! may Allah accept our
fasting and our du´a for mercy during the first ten days, forgiveness during
the next ten days, and shielding from hellfire during the last ten days.

with love,
umm ashaki

------- End of forwarded message -------

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