The Qualities of those who Hasten towards Good: Khutbah of Imam al-Sa’di

The following khutbah was published in a collection of more than 400 sermons of sheikh ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Naasir al-Sa’di:

خطبة في صفة السابقين إلى الخيرات

Khutbah on the Qualities of those who Hasten towards Good

الحمد لله الذي منّ على من شاء من عباده بفعل الخيرات وترك المنكرات . ـ

All praise belongs to Allah who blesses whichever of His slaves He wills by enabling them to carry out good deeds and abstain from evil acts.

وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له كامل الأسماء والصفات . وأشهد أن محمد عبده ورسوله أشرف المخلوقات . اللهم صلّ وسلّم على محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه والتابعين لهم في الأقوال والأفعال والإعتقادات . ـ

I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except for Allah alone, with no partners. It is He whose names and attributes are completely perfect. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger, the most noble of all created beings.

O Allah, bestow your blessings and salutations upon Muhammad, upon his family, upon his companions, and also upon those who follow them in their statements, actions and beliefs.

أما بعد : أيها الناس ؛ اتّقوا الله بتصديق خبره وامتثال أمره واجتناب نهيه ، فقد وصف الله الأخيار من خلقه بهذه الصفات ، قال تعالى : {إِنَّ الَّذِينَ هُم مِّنْ خَشْيَةِ رَبِّهِم مُّشْفِقُونَ * وَالَّذِينَ هُم بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ يُؤْمِنُونَ * وَالَّذِينَ هُم بِرَبِّهِمْ لَا يُشْرِكُونَ * وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْتُونَ مَا آتَوا وَّقُلُوبُهُمْ وَجِلَةٌ أَنَّهُمْ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ رَاجِعُونَ * أُولَـٰئِكَ يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ وَهُمْ لَهَا سَابِقُونَ } [ المؤمنون 57 – 61 ] . ـ

To proceed: O people! Exercise taqwa of Allah by believing in what He has informed you, by complying with what He has commanded you, and by avoiding what He has forbidden for you. For Allah has described the best of His created beings with these attributes. He said:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ هُم مِّنْ خَشْيَةِ رَبِّهِم مُّشْفِقُونَ * وَالَّذِينَ هُم بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ يُؤْمِنُونَ * وَالَّذِينَ هُم بِرَبِّهِمْ لَا يُشْرِكُونَ * وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْتُونَ مَا آتَوا وَّقُلُوبُهُمْ وَجِلَةٌ أَنَّهُمْ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ رَاجِعُونَ * أُولَـٰئِكَ يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ وَهُمْ لَهَا سَابِقُونَ

Those who are apprehensive from fear of their Lord * And who believe in the signs of their Lord * And who do not associate anything with their Lord * And who give what they give while their hearts are fearful because they will be returning to their Lord – * These are the ones who hasten to good deeds, and they are the forerunners to them. [23:57-61]

Three Saving Matters and Three Destructive Matters: Khutbah of Imam al-Sa’di

The following khutbah is taken from a collection of the Friday sermons of sheikh ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Naasir al-Sa’di:

الحمد لله الواحد الأحد ، الفرد الصمد ، الذي لم يلد ولم يولد ، ولم يكن له كفوا أحد ، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له في ملكه وسلطانه ، ولا مثل له في أسمائه وصفاته ، وبره وإحسانه ، وأشهد أن محمدا عبده ورسوله ، المؤيد ببرهانه ، اللهم صل وسلم على محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه وأتباعه وأعوانه . ـ

All praise belongs to Allah, the One, the First, the Singular, the Independent – He who neither begets nor is begotten, and there is none like unto Him.

I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, with no partners in His ownership and rule. And there is none like Him in terms of His Names and Attributes or His benevolence and excellence.

And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger, who was aided by His miraculous proofs. O Allah, grant Your peace and blessings upon Muhammad and upon his family, companions, followers and supporters.

أما بعد : أيها الناس ، اتقوا الله تعالى ، واسلكوا سبيل السلامة والنجاة ، واحذروا سبل العطب والأمور المهلكات ، فقد قال صلى الله عليه وسلم : « ثلاث منجيات وثلاث مهلكات ، فأما المنجيات : فتقوى الله في السر والعلانية ، والقول بالحق في الرضا والسخط ، والقصد في الغنى والفقر ، وأما المهلكات : فهوى متبع ، وشح مطاع ، وإعجاب المرء بنفسه ، وهي أشدهن » . ـ

To proceed: O people, have taqwa of Allah, and travel the path of safety and salvation, and beware of the routes of loss and the destructive matters. For the Prophet said:

There are three saving matters, and three destructive matters. As for the saving matters, they are 1) having taqwa of Allah in both public and private, 2) speaking the truth whether being pleased or displeased, and 3) being moderate regardless of wealth or poverty. As for the destructive matters, they are 1) desires which are followed, 2) miserliness which is obeyed, and 3) a person’s amazement with himself, and that is the gravest of them.

[Reported by al-Bayhaqi in Shu’b al-Eemaan (#6865) from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah]

 فيا له من كلام جامع لمسالك الخيرات ، محذر عن موانع الهلكات . أما تقوى الله في السر والعلانية ، فهي ملاك الأمور ، وبها حصول الخيرات واندفاع الشرور ، فهي مراقبة الله على الدوام ، والعلم بقرب الملك العلام ، فيستحي من ربه أن يراه حيث نهاه ، أو يفقده في كل ما يقرب إلى رضاه . ـ

Oh, how valuable is this comprehensive statement for traveling the path of goodness, cautioning against those destructive impediments!

Khutbah related to ‘Eid al-Adhaa: Imam al-Sa’di

Before his death in the middle of 1376AH (1956CE), sheikh ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Naasir al-Sa’di had already written drafts of the khutbahs he planned to deliver for each Friday for the remainder of the year. One of the final khutbahs included in these drafts was scheduled to be delivered on Friday the 15th of Dhu’l-Hijjah, the first Friday khutbah after the ‘Eid al-Adhaa. Sheikh al-Sa’di wrote:

خطبة ثالثة لذي الحجة

The Third Khutbah of the month of Dhu’l-Hijjah

الحمد لله الذي جعل مواسم الخيرات وأوقات النفل للأبرار نزلا ، ووفقهم للقيام بحقها واغتنام فرصها فلم يرتضى بسواها بدلا ، وجعل لهم حظا وافرا من الباقيات الصالحات التي هي خير ثوابا وخير أملا . ـ

All praise is due to Allah who made the seasons of goodness and times of striving a gift for the righteous ones, and who granted them the accord to give these seasons and times their due and to seize the opportunities they present for He would not be pleased with anything other than that, and who made an abundant bounty of the lasting good deeds – which hold the best of rewards and good hopes – for those righteous ones.

فسبحان من يختص بحكمته ورحمته ما شاء من أزمنة وأمكنة وأعمال ، وتبارك من له الأوصاف الكاملة وله الفضل على خلقه والأفضال . ـ

Exalted is He who – out of His wisdom and mercy – has singled out whatever times, places and actions He wished. Blessed is He who has the most perfect of attributes and grants the best of bounties to His creation.

ونشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ولا ند ولا مثال . ونشهد أن محمدا عبده ورسوله أوفى العالمين كلهم في خصال الخير والكمال . اللهم صل على محمد وعلى آله وصحبه خير صحب وأشرف آل ، وسلم تسليما . ـ

We bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except for Allah alone, without any equal or peer. And we bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger, the most complete of all creation in good and perfect qualities.

O Allah, bestow peace and blessings upon Muhammad, upon his family and upon his family – the best of companions and the most noble of families.

أما بعد : أيها الناس ؛ اتقوا ربكم واشكروه على ما خصكم به من الفضل والإنعام ، ويسّر لكم كل طريق وسبب يوصلكم دار السلام . ـ

To proceed: O people! Exercise taqwa of your Lord and be grateful to Him for the blessings and bounties which He has provided for you all to the exclusion of others, and for the fact that He has facilitated every path and means for you to make your way to the abode of peace [i.e. Paradise].

Khutbah on Welcoming Ramadan in the Proper Way: Imam al-Sa’di

The following khutbah was taken from a collection of the Friday sermons written and delivered by sheikh ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Naasir al-Sa’di:

خطبة في استقبال رمضان بما يُناسبه

Khutbah on Welcoming Ramadan in the Proper Way

الحمد لله الذي جعل مواسم الخيرات نُزُلاً لعباده الأبرار ـ وهيّأ لهم فيها من أصناف نعمه وفُنون كرمه كل خير غزير مدرار ، وجعلها تتكرّر كل عام ليوالي على عباده الفضل ويحُطَّ عنهم الذنوب والأوزار . ـ

All praise is due to Allah, the One who made the seasons of goodness as way-stations for His righteous slaves, and who amply prepared various forms of blessings, hospitality and every sort of good for them therein. He made these seasons such that they are repeated every year, so that bounty might be bestowed upon His slaves and they might be protected from sins and the burdens thereof.

أحمده أن جعل الليل والنهار خلفة لمن أراد التيقّظ والشكر والادّكار ، وأشكره أن جعل شهر رمضان أفضل المواسم الكريمة التي تضاعف فيها الأعمال وتربح بضائع التجار . ـ

I praise Him for making the the night and day in succession for whoever wants to be vigilant, grateful and mindful. And I thank Him for making the month of Ramadan the most virtuous of the noble seasons in which deeds are multiplied and workers make a profit on their goods.

وأشهد أن لا إله الله وحده لا شريك له العزيز الغفار . وأشهد أن محمد عبده ورسوله النبي المختار . اللهم صل عل محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه البررة الأطهار . ـ

I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, with no partners; the Almighty, the Oft-Forgiving. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger; the chosen prophet. O Allah, bestow peace and blessings upon Muhammad, and upon his family and righteous purified companions.

أما بعد : أيها الناس ؛ اتقوا الله تعالى : { يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ وَلْتَنظُرْ‌ نَفْسٌ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ خَبِيرٌ‌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ * وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ نَسُوا اللَّـهَ فَأَنسَاهُمْ أَنفُسَهُمْ ۚ أُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ } [الحشر 18-19] . ـ

To proceed: O People, Exercise taqwa of Allah:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ وَلْتَنظُرْ‌ نَفْسٌ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ خَبِيرٌ‌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ * وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ نَسُوا اللَّـهَ فَأَنسَاهُمْ أَنفُسَهُمْ ۚ أُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ

O you who have believed, have taqwa of Allah. And let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow – and have taqwa of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do. * And do not be like those who forgot Allah, so He made them forget themselves. Those are the defiantly disobedient. [59:18-19]

واعلموا أنه قد أظلّكم شهر عظيم ، وموسم مبارك كريم ، جعل الله صيامه أحد أركان الاسلام ، وندب إلى قيامه فمن أكملها إيماناً واحتساباً تمّ له دينه واستقم . ـ

Know that a great month and a blessed and noble season is almost upon you! Allah made its fasting one of the pillars of Islam and made its night prayers an encouraged action. So whoever perfects them with eemaan and the expectation of reward, then he has completed his deen and made it upright.

Khutbah regarding ‘Aashooraa’: Imam al-Sa’di

In a collection of more than 400 sermons of sheikh ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Naasir al-Sa’di, the following khutbah was one of several related to the month of Muharram:

خطبة ثانية لشهر الله المحرم

The second Khutbah regarding the month of Allah, al-Muharram

الحمد لله القاهر فوق عباده عزا وسلطانا ، القادر على مراده فما اتّخذ في خلق السماوات والارض أعوانا ، الناصر من نصر دينه فحاشاه أن يرهقه خذلانا ، العظيم الشان وناهيك بشأن الربوبية شانا ، خضعت لعزته رقاب الجبابرة إذعانا ، ودلت على وحدانيته شواهد الاعتبار عيانا ، قسم الخلق كما شاء شمائل وأيمانا ، فمنتحل إيمانا ومنتحل كفرانا ، قسمة كتبت فكتمت غير أنّ للسعادة والشقاوة عنوانا ، فطوبى للذين : < إِذَا ذُكِرَ‌ اللَّـهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا > [الانفال 2] ، وبعدا للذين إذا ذُكّروا بآيات ربهم خرّوا عليها صمّا وعميانا .  ـ

All praise belongs to Allah, the One who is irresistibly powerful over His slaves with might and authority; the One who is fully capable of enacting His will for He did not take any assistance in the creation of the heavens and the earth; the One who aids those who aid His deen so He saves these ones from being overcome by failure. How magnificent is His greatness, not to mention the greatness of His Lordship! The necks of the tyrants humble themselves to His might in submissiveness, and the testimony of witnessed examples proves His right to be singled out. He divided the creation as He willed into those of the right and those of the left; some of them ascribed to eemaan and some ascribed to disbelief. This division was ordained and then concealed except for the fact that ultimate happiness and sorrow have signs and indications, so glad tidings to those who:

إِذَا ذُكِرَ‌ اللَّـهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا

 when Allah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith [8:2]

and ill tidings for those who, when the ayaat of their Lord are mentioned to them, they suddenly become deaf and blind.

أحمده سبحانه سرا وإعلانا . وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له شهادة أرجو بها يوم القيامة أمانا . وأشهد أن محمدا عبده ورسوله أكمل الخلق عقلا وأرجحهم ميزانا . ـ

I praise Him – exalted is He – privately and openly. And I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship in truth except Allah alone with no partners – a testimony through which I hope for safety on the Day of Judgement. And I testify that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger – the most complete of the creation in terms of intellect and the most just in judgement.

اللهم صلّ على عبدك ورسولك محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه الذين أيّد الله بهم دينه فكانوا على ذلك أنصارا وأعوانا ، وسلّم تسليما . ـ

O Allah, bestow peace and blessings upon Your slave and Messenger Muhammad and upon his family and his companions – those through whom Allah aided His religion and as such they were helpers and aids.

أما بعد : ـ فيا أيها الناس ؛ اتّقوا الله تعالى تقية من خاف وحذر واستقام ، والتزموا ما وجب عليكم من حقوق الإيمان والإسلام ، وأحبوه تعالى لما غذاكم به من جزيل الفضل والإنعام . ـ

To proceed: O People! Exercise taqwa of Allah – the taqwa of one who fears Him, keeps his guard up and is upright -, and adhere to what is obligatory upon you of the duties of al-eemaan and al-islaam, and love Him due to that with which He has nurtured you of abundant favors and blessings.

واعلموا رحمكم الله أنكم استقبلتم عاما جديدا ، وشهرا محرّما أكيدا ، خصّ باليوم العاشر ، بالأجر الجزيل الوافر . ـ

And know – may Allah have mercy on you all – that you are facing a new year and an emphasized sacred month – especially its tenth day – of abundant and plentiful rewards.

فعن ابن عباس قال : ( قدم النبي ﷺ المدينة فوجد اليهود صياما يوم عاشوراء ، فقال ‏”‏ ما هذا اليوم الذي تصومونه ؟ ‏”‏‏.‏ قالوا ” هذا يوم نجى الله فيه موسى وقومه ، وأهلك فيه فرعون وقومه ، فصامه موسى‏ شكرا لله ، ونحن نصومه ” .‏ قال ﷺ ‏”‏ نحن أَحقُّ وأولى بموسى منكم ‏”‏‏.‏ فصامه وأمر بصيامه.‏ )  [أخرجه البخاري (3315) ومسلم (2714)] ـ

For Ibn ‘Abbas reported:

Khutbah at the Close of the Year: Imam al-Sa’di

In a collection of more than 400 of his sermons, Imam ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Naasir al-Sa’di wrote the following khutbah related to the end of the (Hijri calendar) year, the passing of time and the believer’s response to these phenomena.

خطبة في ختام العام

Khutbah at the Close of the Year

الحمد لله منشئ الأيام والشهور ، ومفني الأعوام والدهور ، وميسر الميسور ومقدر المقدور ، يعلم خائنة الأعين وما تخفي الصدور . ـ

All praise belongs to Allah, the Creator of the days and months and the One who causes the years and time to pass away, the One who facilitates what is made easy and who apportions out what is decreed to happen. He knows the betrayals of the eyes and what the hearts conceal.

وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله الغفور الشكور . وأشهد أن محمدا عبده ورسوله أفضل آمر وأجل مأمور . ـ

I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah; the Forgiving, the Appreciative. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger; the best of those who command and the loftiest of those who were commanded.

اللهم صل وسلم وبارك على نبينا محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه وضاعف اللهم لهم الأجور . ـ

O Allah, grant Your praise, blessings and salutations to our prophet, Muhammad, and to his family and his companions, and O Allah multiply the rewards for them!

أما بعد : أيها الناس ؛ اتقوا الله تعالى حق تقواه ، وتوبوا إليه وأطيعوه تدركوا رضاه . ـ

To proceed: O people, have taqwa of Allah as He deserves to be feared, repent to Him and obey Him that you might attain His pleasure!

عباد الله : تصرمت الأعوام عاما بعد عام ، وأنتم في غفلتكم ساهون نيام ، أما تشاهدون مواقع المنايا ؟ وحلول الآفات والرزايا ! وكيف فاز وأفلح المتقون ؟ وكيف خاب وخسر المبطلون والمفرطون ؟ ـ

Slaves of Allah! The years are being cut off one after the other while you in your heedlessness are neglectful as if sleeping! Haven’t you witnessed the decreed events, or the oncoming of vices and harms? How the muttaqoon have succeeded and prospered? Or how the wasteful ones and those upon falsehood regretted and lost?

Khutbah regarding Hajj: Imam al-Sa’di

The following khutbah was one of several on the subject of the Hajj found in a collection of more than 400 sermons of sheikh ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Naasir al-Sa’di:

خطبة أولى في الحجّ

First Khutbah on the subject of the Hajj

الحمد لله الذي فرض الحج لبيته الحرام ، وجعل قصده مُكفِّراً للذنوب والآثام ، ولم يرض لمن أكمله وقام بحقوقه جزاء إلا الفوز برضوانه في دار السلام . ـ

All praise is due to Allah, the One who has ordained Hajj (pilgrimage) to His sacred house, and He made its purpose an expiation of sins and wrong-doings, and He is not pleased with anyone who completes it and fulfills its rights except that He would reward him with the attainment of His pleasure in the abode of peace.

أحمده أن جعل هذا البيت مثابة للناس وأمنا ، وجعل أفئدة من الناس تهوي إليه محبة وشوقا ، فهم يترددون إليه ويزدادون لهفا عليه وتوقا ، فقلوبهم على الدوام تحنّ إليه ، وعاجزهم يتأسّف لانقطاعه عن الوصول إليه . ـ

I praise Him for making this House a place of refuge and safety for mankind. He made the hearts of mankind to incline towards it with love and and desire, so they frequently return to it and increase in longing and yearning for it. So their hearts are always pining for it, and those of them who are unable grieve at being cut off from finding a way to it.

The Fundamentals of the Prohibited Deeds – Khutbah of Imam al-Sa’di

From a collection of more than 400 sermons of Imam ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Naasir al-Sa’di:

خطبة في قوله تعالى : < قُلْ إِنَّمَا حَرَّ‌مَ رَ‌بِّيَ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ‌ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ …> ـ

Khutbah on Allah’s statement, “Say, ‘My Lord has only forbidden immoralities – what is apparent of them and what is concealed…'”

الحمد لله الذي أمر عباده بكل ما فيه خير لهم وصلاح ، ونهاهم عن جميع المضار والأعمال القباح . ـ

All praise belongs to Allah who commanded His slaves with everything in which there is good and rectitude for them, and prohibited them from all harms and despicable actions.

أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له الكريم الفتّاح . ـ

I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone with no partners, the Noble, the Giver of victory.

أشهد أن محمدا عبده ورسوله الذي نهى عن كل خبيث وأذن في كل طيب وأباح . ـ

And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger who prohibited every abhorrent thing and permitted every good and allowable thing.

اللهم صلّ وسلّم على محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه أولي الرشد والتقى والنجاح . ـ

O Allah! Bestow Your peace and blessings upon Muhammad and upon his family and his companions, the preeminent ones in terms of guidance, reverence of Allah and ultimate salvation.

أمّا بعد : أيها الناس ؛ اتّقوا الله بترك مساخطه ومناهيه ، والقيام بفرائضه ومراضية ، فقد جمع لكم أصول ما حرّم عليكم في آية واحدة ، وهي قولة تعالى : < قُلْ إِنَّمَا حَرَّ‌مَ رَ‌بِّيَ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ‌ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَالْإِثْمَ وَالْبَغْيَ بِغَيْرِ‌ الْحَقِّ وَأَن تُشْرِ‌كُوا بِاللَّـهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ سُلْطَانًا وَأَن تَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّـهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ> [الأعراف 33] . ـ

To proceed: O Mankind! Have taqwa of Allah by abandoning what angers Him and his prohibitions, and by enacting what He has obligated and what pleases Him. And He has gathered the fundamentals of what He has made forbidden for you in a single ayah, which is His statement,

A Khutbah just before the last ten days of Ramadan: Imam al-Sa’di

In a collection of more than 400 sermons which sheikh ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Naasir al-Sa’di wrote and/or delivered from the minbar of the main masjid of his native city of ‘Unayzah, Saudi Arabia, the following khutbah was written to be delivered on the 19th of Ramadan in the year 1376 A.H. (corresponding to April 19th, 1957 C.E.)*:

خطبة قُبيل العشر الأواخير من رمضان

A Khutbah just before the last ten days of Ramadan

الحمد لله الذي بسط خيره وإحسانه في هذا الشهر الكريم ، وجعله مورداً للعباد يغتنمونه للوصول إلى النعيم المقيم . ـ

All praise belongs to Allah who has extended His goodness and ihsaan during this noble month, and has made it a well-spring for the slaves through which they can attain lasting bliss.

وأشهد أن لا إله إلّا الله وحده لا شريك له ذو الفضل العظيم ، والإحسان الشامل العميم . وأشهد أن محمداً عبده ورسوله النبي الكريم . اللهم صلّ على محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه وأتباعهم على الهدى المستقيم ، وسلّم تسليماً . ـ

I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship in truth except Allah alone with no partners, the Possessor of great bounty and abundant and encompassing ihsaan. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger, a noble prophet. O Allah, bestow Your peace and blessings upon Muhammad and upon his family and companions and upon those who follow them according to the correct guidance.

أمّا بعد : أيها الناس ، اتقوا الله تعالى بفعل مراضيه واجتناب مناهيه ، وتداركوا الأوقات الفاضلة قبل أن يندم المفرط على غفلته عن مصالحه وتماديه . ـ

To proceed: O mankind, have taqwa of Allah by performing what pleases Him and avoiding His prohibitions, and make good use of this meritorious time before you regret wasting it out of heedlessness of its benefits and out of immoderate behavior.

فقد أمدّكم مولاكم في هذا الشهر من موائد جوده بفضائل جمّة ، وتفضّل عليكم يخيرات وكرامات وخصائص مهمّة . ـ

For your Master has allowed you to live until this month out of the bounty of His generosity due to His abundant blessings, and He has favored you with goodness, noble endowments and a great distinction.

Khutbah on the Merits of Ramadan: Imam al-Sa’di

The following khutbah was recorded in a book containing more than 400 sermons of sheikh ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Naasir al-Sa’di:

الخطبة لرمضان وفضله غير ما تقدم

A Khutbah for Ramadan and its virtues which have not previously been mentioned

الحمد لله على ما له من الأسماء الحسنى والمثل الأعلى ، وما خلقه وحكم به في الأولى والأخرى . ـ

All praise belongs to Allah for what He has of beautiful Names and lofty Likeness, and for what He created and ordained, both in the beginning and the end.

وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ، وله ترفع الشكوى ، وأشهد أن محمدا عبده ورسوله المصطفى ، ونبيه المجتبى .ـ

And I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone with no partner alongside Him, elevated above any deficiency. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His chosen messenger and revered prophet.

اللهم صل وسلم على محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه العلماء الفضلاء النجباء . ـ

O Allah, bestow Your blessings and peace upon Muhammad and upon his family and his knowledgeable, honorable, noble companions.

أما بعد : أيها الناس ، اتقوا الله حق تقواه ، وذلك باجتناب مساخطه وتتبع رضاه ، وبالشكر له على ما أولاه من النعم وأسداه . فقد أمدكم الله بهذا الشهر الكريم ، وأسبغ عليكم فيه كرمه العميم . أنزل الله فيه القرآن محتويا على الهدى والخير والبيان . ـ

As to what follows: O people, have taqwa of Allah as He is deserving of taqwa, and that done is by avoiding what displeases Him and by following what pleases Him, and by gratitude to Him for what He has granted of blessings. Allah has allowed you the respite to reach this honored month, and He has bestowed His all-expansive  generosity upon you therein. It was in this month that Allah sent down the Qur’an, containing guidance, goodness and clarity.

فيه تفتح أبواب الرحمة والخيرات ، وفيه تغلق أبواب الجحيم وتتوب العصاة من السيئات ، وينادي فيه منادي الخير: يا باغي الخير أقبل على الطاعات ، ويا باغي الشر أقصر وتب عن المخالفات . ولله عتقاء من النار ، وذلك في كل ليلة عند الإفطار . فتعرضوا لنفحات المحسن الغفار . ـ

In this month there is the opening of the gates of mercy and goodness, and in it there is the closing of the gates of the Hell-fire and the repentance of the disobedient ones from sins. And a caller calls therein to goodness, “O one who excels in good, devote yourself to acts of obedience! O one who is excessive in evil, reign yourself in and repent from your acts of disobedience! And to Allah belong those emancipated from the Hell-fire.” And this occurs every night at the time of the breaking of the fast, so turn yourselves to the blessings of al-Muhsin al-Ghaffaar [the Excellent One, the Exceedingly Forgiving].