(Friday, November 30, 2001) DON'T WASTE BLESSED DAYS AND NIGHTS IN SLEEPING,SHOPPING AND AMUSEMENT. SHEIKH Osama Bin Abdullah Khayyat,Imam and Khateeb of the Holy Haram in Makkah, advised Muslims to fear Allah, worship Him sincerely with complete faith and trust in Him and seek His favor by doing good deeds. In his Friday sermon (Khutbah) on November 30, 2001, the Imam warned Muslims against wasting their life in absurd amusement and pleasures. He pointed out that every Muslim must grab the opportunity of fasting, in doing good deeds in the holy month of Ramadan in order to gain divine fa­vor. He said that fasting arouses the strength that has died down and the will and determination that have abated. It is the best preparation to reach the lofty levels and gain happiness in this world and the Hereafter. Sheikh Khayyat considered Rama­dan as one of the bounties that the Al­mighty has bestowed on the Muslim Ummah. It is also one of the seasons of blessings that each one of us must take advantage of. He urged Muslims to benefit from and realize the importance of the re­maining days of the holy month, half of which has already gone by swiftly. Un­happy, unfortunate and miserable is he who has been deprived of Allah's mer­cy in this holy month, he asserted. MADINA Meanwhile, Sheikh Salah Bin Mu­hammad Al-Budair,Imam and Khateeb of the Prophet's Mosque in Madina, called upon Muslims to supplicate and worship Allah a lot during Ramadan. While delivering his Friday Khutbah, Sheikh A1-Budair said that Allah has honored His servants with the month of fasting,in which there is mercy, for­giveness and salvation from the Hell­fire. He urged Muslims to give a lot of alms and actively participate in charity works and compete with one another to gain Allah's favor in this world and the Hereafter. The Imam warned against slacken­ing,laziness,and wasting the time in sleeping,shopping and amusement.He said that Allah says in the Holy Qur'an that worship, prayers,alms and Zakat benefit a Muslim in this life and in the Hereafter as well. He added that Allah says that fasting is for Him and it is He Who rewards for it. Sheikh Al-Budair dealt with numer­ous matters of concern to the fasting person in this holy month and the bless­ings to be gained. He spoke on I'tikaf (living in seclusion in a mosque) during this blessed month in order to gain Al­lah's reward,including salvation from the Hellfire. He advised Muslims to fear the Al­mighty and keep away from sins, which are the cause of the Ummah's tribula­tion. The Holy Quran:SURAH 97:AL-QADR(The Night Of Decree): Bismillaahir- Rahmaanir- Rahiim. 1.'Innaa 'anzalnaahu fii Laylatil-QADR. 2. Wa maaa 'adraaka maa Laylatul-Qadr? 3.Laylatul-Qadri khayrum min 'alfi Shahr. 4.Tanzzaalul-malaaa- 'ikatu war-Ruuhu fiihaa bi-'izni-     Rabbihim-min-kulli'amr 5.Salaamun Hiya hattaa matla-'il-fajr! In the name of Allah,the Beneficent,the Merciful. 1.Lo! We revealed it(QURAN) on the Night Of power. 2.Ah,What will convey unto thee what the Night of power is! 3.The Night of power is better than a thousand months. 4.The Angels and the Spirit descend therein,by the Permission of    their Lord,with all decrees. 5.(That night is ) Peace until the rising of the dawn. Surah 44:Ad-Dukhan(The Smoke)Verses 3 & 4: Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim. 3.'Innaaa 'anzalnaahu fii laylatim-mubaarakatin 'innaa kunnaa munziriin. 4.Fiihaa yufraqu kullu 'amrin hakiim. In the Name of Allah the Most Gracious,the Most Merciful. 3.We sent it (this Quran) down on a blessed night[(i.e.the night of Al- Qadr,Surah 97)in the month of Ramadan-the 9th month of the Islamic calendar].Verily,we are ever warning[mankind that Our Torment will reach those who disbelieve in our oneness of worship]. 4.Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments(i.e.the matters of deaths,births,provisions,calamities,for whole (coming)year as decreed by Allah. HADITH:Narrated Aishah(RA),Allah's messenger(PBUH)said,"search for the Night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadan." DUA(SUPPLICATION):We ask Allah to accept our fasting and our prayer at night,and to help us to remember Him and to thank Him and to worship Him properly.May Allah bless our Prophet Muhammad.Ameen. SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF ALLAH. With the very best of good wishes, Musa Amadu Pembo Glasgow, Scotland UK. [log in to unmask] Da’wah is to convey the message with wisdom and with good words. We should give the noble and positive message of Islam. We should try to emphasize more commonalities and explain the difference without getting into theological arguments and without claiming the superiority of one position over the other. There is a great interest among the people to know about Islam and we should do our best to give the right message. May Allah,Subhana Wa Ta'Ala,guide us all to His Sirat Al-Mustaqim (Righteous Path).May He protect us from the evils of this life and the hereafter.May Allah,Subhana Wa Ta'Ala,grant us entrance to paradise .. Ameen