Al-Maqasid

As the last ten nights of Ramadan approach and believers actively seek the blessed Laylatul Qadr (Night of Great Worth), Ustadh Amjad Tarsin reminds us that the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ was to strive even harder in ibadah (worship) during this time, anticipating the unique Divine gifts that are possible. He also mentions how to make oneself ready to receive these gifts and recites several powerful du’as particular to this time, recognizing that Allah the Exalted always has infinitely more to give.

As we enter the second ten days of Ramadan, the days of forgiveness, Shaykh Yahya Rhodus explains Imam al-Ghazali’s three degrees of fasting: the fast of the common folk, the fast of the elect, and the fast of the elect of the elect. Shaykh Yahya focuses on the fast of the elect (or righteous) and its six practices to encourage us to strive for a higher level of fasting and its potential rewards. He also mentions the greatest sign that an act is accepted by Allah the Exalted and gives a du’a (supplication) to recite asking for this acceptance.

“The seeker is not truly a seeker until he finds in the Qur’an all that seeks.”

As this blessed month of Ramadan begins, it is a good time to access our relationship with the Qur’an. It has been said that to gage one’s state with Allah the Exalted, one should look at his or her connectiveness with the Qur’an. In this Khubah, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin relates an inspiring story of a Companion whose recitation of the Qur’an drew angels near to him. He also explains what one can do to connect, reconnect, or enhance one’s connection with the Qur’an.

After discussing the virtues of Ramadan and the fruits of fasting, Ustadh Amjad provides a list of practical steps to prepare oneself and one’s environment in order to enhance one’s ability to take advantage of the unique blessings this sacred month offers.

“Whoever hurts a Muslim has hurt me. And whoever hurts me has hurt Allah.”

Continuing with his short series on the rights of Muslims on other Muslims in preparation for Ramadan, Shaykh Yahya Rhodus mentions numerous hadith that unequivocally demonstrate that believers have a sanctity that other believers must uphold.

In this khutba, Shaykh Yahya defines the four cardinal virtues in an Islamic context and then focuses on the virtue of courage, which lies between cowardness and recklessness. He discusses the other traits of good character that rise from it, as well as the bad character traits that arise when there is an imbalance and the trait of cowardness or its opposite, recklessness, dominates.

“Learning has a beginning but it doesn’t have an end.”

Shaykh Yahya Rhodus continues his short series on the rights of Muslims on other Muslims looking at three rights that Imam al-Haddad (d. 1132 AH/1720 CE) emphasized. He also relates two beautiful stories about Sayyidina Umar ibn Khattab, radi Allahu anhu, illustrating the practical application of fulfilling these rights.

“The sanctity of a believer is greater than the Ka’bah itself.”

In preparation for Ramadan and over the next several weeks, Shaykh Yahya Rhodus will be focusing on the rights of Muslims on other Muslims. This topic is especially important because Allah the Exalted does not forgive a sin unless the wronged person has forgiven the sin.

In this short series in preparation for Ramadan, Shaykh Yahya Rhodus continues his discussion on the right of Muslims on other Muslims. According to Imam al-Haddad (d. 1132 AH/1720 CE), there are two key traits that facilitate many other traits. Shaykh Yahya discusses these traits and explains how to begin to implement them.

Just as there are distinct manifestations that occur in the physical seasons, the same is true for the spiritual seasons. There are blessings that we can receive in Ramadan that we cannot receive outside of Ramadan. Likewise, there are blessings available in Rajab that are very difficult to receive outside of Rajab. In this Khutba, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin explains how we can take advantage of the unique and blessed month of Sha’ban in preparation of the most sacred month of Ramadan.