Honorable Muslims!
In the verse I have recited, our Lord Almighty (swt) states as follows, “The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the crescent of] the month, let him fast it.”[i]
In the hadith I have said, the Prophet Muhammad (saw) states, “When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained.”[ii]
Dear Muslims!
Our blessed guest, Ramadan, is an exalted invitation for us from our Lord (swt). It is a call for us to recite the Holy Qur’an, our guide to the true path, more and contemplate more. It is the best opportunity for us to strengthen our will and discipline our self through fasting. With suhoor and iftar meals, it means peace and abundance of divine blessings in our homes. With tarawih prayers we perform in addition to the five daily prayers, it means health for our body and tranquility for our soul. With the zakat, fitr, and sadaqah we give, it means fondness between our relatives, neighbors and all our brothers and sisters. The greatest responsibility that falls upon us as Muslims in this month is to accommodate this blessed guest in the best place in our hearts and to accept this divine invitation wholeheartedly.
Dear Muslims!
Ramadan Kareem! I wish you all a happy Ramadan. May our hearts and intellectual world find healing with the Qur’an.
[i] Baqarah, 2/185.
[ii] Muslim, Siyam, 1.
FRIDAY KHUTBA OF TOKYO CAMİİ “RAMADAN: THE BLESSED GUEST“.(PDF)