Honorable Muslims!
In the verse I have recited at the beginning of the khutbah, Allah the Almighty (swt) states in the Surah al-Qadr, "Indeed, We sent the Qur'an down during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn."[1]
In the hadith I have read, the Prophet Muhammad (saw) gives the following good news, "Whoever spends the night of Qadr in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven."[2]
Dear Believers!
We are in the last days of Ramadan, the beginning of which denotes mercy, the middle of which forgiveness, and the end of which salvation from hell. These exceptional days are the days among which is hidden the Lailat al-Qadr, which is better than a thousand months. Our Prophet (saw) says in one hadith, "Search for the Night of Qadr in the last ten days of Ramadan."[3]
The Lailat al-Qadr is a sacred night during which Allah's grace and mercy shower down and believers' hearts overflow with love and compassion. The Lailat al-Qadr is a unique night that reminds us of the values that we have forgotten and reawakens our blinded consciences. The Messenger of Allah (saw) warns his ummah about this night as follows, "Whoever is deprived of the goodness of this night is like deprived of the goodness of a thousand months."[4]
Dear Muslims!
What makes the Lailat al-Qadr valuable is the Holy Qur'an that was revealed that night. The Qur'an is the Kalam Allah (the Words of Allah) sent by our Lord, about which there is never any doubt. The Qur'an is Dhikr, recitation of which is an act of worship. The Qur'an is al-Furqan, which distinguishes between what is true and what is untrue, as well as what is straight and what is not straight. The Qur'an is Hikmah, in which the divine address and warning are conveyed in all of its nuance. The Qur'an is Mubin, which clearly shows the right path to all people to come until the Last Day. It is Aziz, which exalts both in this world and in the Hereafter those who adopt its orders as principles and spend their life in line with the Qur'an.
Dear Believers!
The last days of Ramadan are also the time for i'tikaf. Our Prophet would perform i'tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan.[5] I'tikaf is a refreshment of a believer's consciousness of servitude by staying away from worldly affairs. It means being busy, day and night, with worship and contemplation, thanking and praising Allah, repenting and asking Him (swt) for forgiveness. Thus, we may have the opportunity to face ourselves. That way we can remember our responsibilities, our end and afterlife, which we have forgotten in the rush of life.
Dear Muslims!
Let us view the last days of Ramadan and the Lailat al-Qadr as a divine grace and blessing for us. Let us embrace the Qur'an with our minds and hearts. Let us recite it more, understand it better, live up to and uphold it. Let us show regret for and turn away from our mistakes and sins. Let us know the value of every night and be thankful for every blessing so that we may have our entire lives blessed. Thus, we may be able to succeed to the Jannah al-Firdaws that Allah promises for His believing servants.
I would like to conclude this Friday's khutbah with our Prophet's (saw) following supplication:
اَللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ كَرِيمٌ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّى
"O Allah! You are Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness; so forgive me."[6]
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[1] Qadr, 97/1-5.
[2] Bukhari, Sawm, 6.
[3] Muwatta', I'tikaf, 6.
[4] Nasa'i, Siyam, 5.
[5] Bukhari, I'tikaf, 1.
[6] Tirmidhi, Da'awat, 84.
General Directorate of Religious Services