Khutba Before Ramadan

Shahru Ramadan - The month of Ramadan

Shahr ul Bishara - The month of Glad Tidings

Shahr ul Burhan - The month of the Proof

Shahr ul Ghufran - The month of Forgiveness

Shahr ul Ibada - The month of the Worship of Allah

Shahr ul Ihsan - The month of Goodness

Shahr ul iman - The month of True Faith

Shahru Laylatil Qadr - The month of the Blessed Night of Power for night-long worship

Shahr ul Mahamid - The month of the Praises of Allah

Shahr ul Masabih - The month of Luminous Lamps

Shahr ul Masajid - The month of the Mosques

Shahru Nabiyyuna Muhammad alayhis salatu was salam - The month of our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him

Shahr ul Qiyam - The month of Standing-up for Prayer

Shahr ul Quran - The month of the Quran, when it was first revealed

Shahr us Saada - The month of Happiness, the month of Salvation

Shahr ush Shahada- The month of Witnessing

Shahr us Siyam - The month of Fasting

Shahr ut Tahara The month of Purification, of body, heart and soul

Shahr ut Tarawih - The month of Tarawih prayers

Shahr ut Tawba - The month of Repentance

Shahr uz Ziyada - The month of Increase (in Allah's Blessings)

As you know, the month of Ramadan is fast approaching, so I thought I would take the opportunity in this khutba to remind myself and you about some of the basics. We go through them every year, masha Allah, but nonetheless, it is a good reminder.

First of all, we must thank Allah for allowing us the opportunity to witness it’s beginning whereas there are some people, who did not live long enough from last year till this year. It is reported in stories that the companions used to make du’a during the month of Ramadan to make them complete it with acceptance, and then after it was over, they used to make dua that they would live to be blessed by another one. I pray to Allah that He allows us to live until this Ramadan begins and allows us the blessing of completing it with acceptance.

It is stated that the Ramadan comes from the root Ra ma da, ramida, arramad, which means to burn through scorching. It is said that Ramadan used to fall in the hottest month of the year during the time of the Prophet and before (August). So, for example, Allah made the cycle of forests in such a way that they have fires that burn everything to the ground, and from this lifelessness of the forest, you get richer and stronger growth. And the same can be said about the human body, that it needs a fast to cleanse itself of the impurities of this world. Some people call this detoxification, but interestingly enough, to all religions, Allah gave a certain kind of fast. It might not have the same fiqh rules as the fast of Muslims, but they were still given one, as it mentions in the Qur’an:

O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you attain righteousness (2:183)

And the last part of this verse is very important when it comes to fasting. We need to reflect upon it within the context of our own lives. For many of us, we have been through many fasts of Ramadan, so the question becomes, have we increased in God-consciousness. If we haven’t, then either we are doing the fasting perfectly and the Qur’an is wrong (that fasting does not increase God consciousness) or we are imperfect and need to improve our fasting.

So it is important to revisit, before the month begins, how we will fast to attain more God-consciousness. And the best way to do this is to practice how we will fast in Ramadan, by fasting in this month, of Sha’ban. These next few days are important for this practice, but also to get a running start on Ramadan. If you look at it like a race, say 100 meter. If you take the fastest time of the 100 meter and multiply by 4, it will still be more than if you took the 400 meter fastest time. Why? Cause 3 of the runners had a running start. Starting from a stand still means you have to build momentum and this takes precious time. Time we don’t want to waste in Ramadan, so get a running start by fasting for the next few days, insha Allah.

And this blessed month, because it is so blessed has many names, as I mentioned earlier:

Shahru Ramadan - The month of Ramadan

Shahr ul Bishara - The month of Glad Tidings, because it is a month that Allah has given to Muslims as a blessing in that Gates of Paradise are swung open, Gates of Hell are slammed shut, and the shayateen are in chains

Shahr ul Burhan - The month of the Proof, because it is a month when the above hadeeth is manifested before our very eyes

Shahr ul Ghufran - The month of Forgiveness, because it is the month where the Prophet said in a hadith related by Abu Hurraira: “whoever observes fasts during the month of Ramadan with sincere faith, and hoping to attain Allah’s reward, then all his past sins will be forgiven”

Shahr ul Ibada - The month of the Worship of Allah because it is a month it is the only entire month where you can be in worship of Allah for the entire day, every hour, every minute, every second, if you are fasting

Shahr ul Ihsan - The month of Goodness because it is a month where you find people being more good, by inviting each other over, sharing meals, being happy and festive

Shahr ul iman - The month of True Faith because it is a month where if you fast properly, you will increase your Iman

Shahru Laylatil Qadr - The month of the Night of Power because it is the month that Allah has given us one night which is better than 1000 months

Shahr ul Mahamid - The month of the Praises of Allah because it is a month where you find during the day and night, many more servants praising Allah

Shahr ul Masajid - The month of the Mosques because it is the month when the masajid become full of life and people come who never came before

Shahru Nabiyyuna Muhammad alayhis salatu was salam - The month of our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him because it is the month in which he secluded himself even before Islam and then was honored with revelation during it

Shahr ul Qiyam - The month of Standing-up for Prayer because it is the month when Muslims stand for prayer at night in worship of their Creator

Shahr ul Quran - The month of the Quran, because it is the month in which it was first revealed, and later, in which it was compiled in it form today by Jibreel and the Prophet

Shahr us Saada - The month of Happiness, the month of Salvation because it is a month that even if you were bad the entire year, it is in this month that you can be happy that Allah will forgive you

Shahr ush Shahada- The month of Witnessing in that it is the Month wherein Allah opened up the heavens and delivered to humans the final guidance and criterion

Shahr us Siyam - The month of Fasting because it is the only month which Allah has made obligatory on us to fast the entire month

Shahr ut Tahara The month of Purification because it is in this month, through the fasting that you purify your body, heart and soul

Shahr ut Tarawih - The month of Tarawih because it is in this month that you stay up after the ‘Isha prayer, and pray some more, completing the recitation of Qur’an

Shahr ut Tawba - The month of Repentance because it is the month that brings an opportunity to reflect on the past, ask for forgiveness, and move on with your life with a new beginning

Shahr uz Ziyada - The month of Increase (in Allah's Blessings) because it is the month when Allah increases all the good actions that one performs for 70 fold



The Sermon given by the Most Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam on the last Friday of Sha'ban on the reception of the month of Ramadhan. I could not find it’s chain of narration, but it has a good message, and I found it on Shk. Google:


"O People!

Indeed ahead of you is the blessed month of Allah.

A month of blessing, mercy and forgiveness.

A month that, with Allah, is the best of months.

Its days, the best of days; its nights, the best of nights; and its hours, the best of hours.

It is the month that invites you to be the guests of Allah and invites you to be one of those near to 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 His 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 Qiyamah (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 dua 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 dependant on your deeds, free it with repentance, lighten its loads 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 Iftaar 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 Beloved Messenger of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam: "Not all of us are able to invite those who are fasting?"

The Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam replied:

"Allah gives this reward even if the Iftaar 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 Judgment...

As for one who honors an orphan; Allah will honor him on the day of judgment.

And for the one who spreads his kindness, Allah will spread His mercy over him on the day of Judgment.

As for the one who cuts the ties of relation; Allah will cut His mercy from him...

Who so ever performs a recommended prayer in this month, Allah will keep the fire of Hell away from him...

Whoever performs an obligatory prayer, Allah will reward him with seventy prayers [worth] in this month.

And who so ever prays a lot during this month will have his load lightened on the day of measure.

He who recites one verse of the Noble Qur'an will 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 Shaytan (Satan) is imprisoned so ask your Lord not to let him have power over you."