11. PEOPLE WHO ARE HEADED TO HELLFIRE
Prof. Dr. Mahmud Es'ad Cosan
Eùdhu bi’llâhi mina’sh-shaytàni’r-rajîm.
Bi’smi’llâhi’r-rahmâni’r-rahîm.
El-hamdu li’llâhi haqqa hamdihî, wa’s-salatu wa’s-salamu alâ khayra khalqihî sayyidinâ muhammadin wa alâ âlihî wa sahbihî
wa men tebiahû bi-ihsânin ejmaîn...
Praise is to Almighty Allah who is truly to be praised. The blessings of Allah be on our master Prophet Muhammad, his family,
his companions and his sincere followers all.
My Dear beloved Muslim Brothers and Sisters!
O blessed congregation of Muslims!
May Almighty Allah accept our fasts, prayers and supplications.
May He grant you the desires of your hearts in this life and in the hereafter.
In this brief time period after the Isha prayer, I would like to explain few verses and a Hadith Qudsî.
a. Prepare for the Hereafter!
Dear Brothers and Sisters! In many verses of the Qur'an, Allah
subhanahu wa ta'ala orders taqwa on us. "Be muttaqî servants!
Hold on to taqwa! Make taqwa your principle." You hear these
verses often. In Surah Hashr, before the "Huwallàhulledhî lâ ilâha
illâ hû" verse that we often read, Almighty Allah says,
Bi’smi’llâhi’r-rahmâni’r-rahîm:
يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللهَ وَلْتَنْظُرْ نَفْسٌ مَا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَد ، وَاتَّقُوا
اللهَ، إِنَّ اللهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ (الحشر:٨١)
(Yâ eyyuhelledhîne âmenuttaqullàha waltenzur nafsun mâ qaddemet lighad, wattaqullàh, innallàhe khabîrun bimâ ta'malûn.) (Qur'an 59:18)
This verse means, (Yâ eyyuhe’lledhîne âmenû) "O you who have
believed, o Muslims! (Ittaqu’llàh) Fear Allah, have taqwa! (Waltenzur nafsun mâ qaddemet li-ghad) Let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow." Each of us must consider what
we are preparing for tomorrow.
"Today" is our life in this world, our present life. "Tomorrow" is the life in the hereafter. Let each person look at what he is preparing for the hereafter. What is he preparing? What will he present?
The Prophet SAS has explained the matter with a simile for everybody to understand:38
الدنـْيَا مَزْرَعَةُ اْلآخِرَة .
(Ad-dunyâ mezrâ'atu’l-âkhirah) "This life is the arable field for the hereafter." You are going to plant crops here to harvest them
in the hereafter. You harvest whatever you plant. Nobody would
plant wheat and harvest cotton instead. What ever you do in this life, you will get it in the hereafter. This is a simple fact that everybody, from the most illiterate to the top scholar, could
understand easily. It is a fact just like two plus two equals four.
Our lord is ordering us "Let each person look at what he is preparing for the hereafter." Then we must look at what we do everyday. We turn back and look at what we have done. Every
evening we must evaluate our deeds and look at our losses and
38 Keşfü’l-Hafâ, c.II, s.301, no:1320.
gains.
Some great personages had done that very seriously. They took a sheet of paper and a pen and listed their good deeds and bad deeds
so that they would not repeat the bad deeds and maintain the good
ones. They questioned themselves: "How did I miss that one?"
Hadrat Omar ibn-i Khattab RA recommended:39
حَاسِبُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُحَاسَبُوا (ت. ش. عن عمر)
(Hàsibû anfusakum qabla an tuhàsabû) "Interrogate
yourselves before you are interrogated in the hereafter. Do an analysis here!" A store owner would examine his records before the end of the year to see where he is headed. How much does he owe?
How much is he going to receive? What is the overhead? Each
person would pay attention to such things; otherwise, he would not know how much deficit or loss he will have to face at the end of the year. Every evening the account is checked.
That is why we ought to ask ourselves: "What I am preparing for the hereafter?" Before going to sleep, each person should remember
the events of the day: "What did I do in the morning? When did I leave the house? Which places did I go? What things did I do?" He should get answers to these questions.
There was a man living in Madinah al Munawwarah. He was a good Muslim. Whenever he visited the grave of the Prophet, he would greet: "As-salaâtu was-salâmu 'aleyke yâ Rasûlallah!" He would hear a response of the Prophet, too. What a great state! Once
he had visitors from his hometown. He inquired about his neighbors and relatives who are living in his hometown. With the
39 Tirmizî, Sünen, c.IV, s.638, no:2459; İbn-i Ebî Şeybe, Musannef, c.VII, s.96, no:34459; Abdullah ibn-i Mübârek, Zühd, c.I, s.103, no:306; İbn-i Esîr, Üsdü’l- Gàbe, c.I, s.828; İbn-i Asâkir, Târih-i Dimaşk, c.XXXXIV, s.314; Hz. Ömer RA’dan.
Kenzü’l-Ummâl,c.XVI, s.188, no:44203; Câmiü’l-Ehàdîs, c.XXVI, s.433, no:29408.
longing for his hometown, they had a conversation for a while. Then
at the prayer time, this man went to the Masjid-i Nabawî (the masjid of the Prophet SAS) and greeted him. This time he did not hear a response from the Prophet SAS. He felt so sorry: "What I have done! I must have committed an offense!" He thought of what
he had done that particular day. He traced back what he did since
the morning.
"O Lord! What did I do? Why did the Prophet ignored me when
I greeted him?"
He kept thinking and pondering. He thought of the conversations and finally he found his fault. He uttered the words:
"The yoghurt in our home town is the best. The yoghurt made
here is not even comparable. It is not good at all." How dare you utter such words indicating the displeasure of the conditions of the place that is identified with the Prophet? That
costed him a fall in his spiritual rank. He repented in tears and corrected himself to gain the previous state he was in.
If a person looks back, he would see his good deeds (khayr) and mistakes and faults (sherr) he has committed.
Khayr is something that is pleasing to the heart. The sin is something that is heavy on the heart and unpleasant. This is a simple criterion, easily understood.
Coming back to the verse:
وَاتـَّقُوا اللهَ
(Wa’ttequ'llàh) "Be aware of Allah, have taqwa!" We have to look at what we are presenting for tomorrow. The first word is "ittequllàh"; it means to be aware of Allah, to fear Allah.
b. The Month to Learn and Acquire Taqwâ
In this month of Ramadhan, this blessed worship of fasting has
been ordained for us so that we may learn how to have taqwa. It is stated in the Qur'an, bismi’llâhi’r-rahmâni’r-rahîm:
يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمْ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن
قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ (البقرة:٣٨١)
(Yâ ayyuhe’lldhine âmenû kutibe alaykumu’s-siyâmu kemâ
kutibe 'ale’lledhîne min qablikum le'allekum tetteqûn) "O you who have believed! Fasting is prescribed on you as it was prescribed on those who lived before you so that you may learn how to be aware
of Allah, have taqwa."
Let me read the whole of the verse I recited earlier.
Bi’smi’llâhi’r-rahmâni’r-rahîm:
يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللهََّ وَلْتَنْظُرْ نَفْسٌ مَا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَد ، وَاتَّقُوا
اللهَ، إِنَّ اللهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ (الحشر:٨١)
(Yâ eyyuhe’lledhîne âmenu’ttaqullàha waltenzur nafsun mâ qaddemet li-ghad) "O you who have believed. Be aware of Allah!
And let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow.
(Wa’ttaqu’llàh) And be aware of Allah! (İnna’llàhe khabîrun bimâ
ta'malûn.) Indeed, Allah is Acquinted with what you do." He knows
everything you do, hidden or obvious. He has the absolute
knowledge of all. Now we have to be aware of Allah--have taqwa. We must make
ittiqà. Ittiqà means to be aware of, to avoid, to fear. What are we going to be aware of, avoid or fear? (Ittequllàh) "Be aware of Allah,
fear Allah!" Yes, but, hasn't the Prophet SAS stated following:40
40 Müslim, Sahîh, c.I, s.93, İman 1/39, no:91; Ahmed ibn-i Hanbel, Müsned, c.I, s.399, no:3789; İbn-i Hibbân, Sahîh, c.XII, s.280, no:5466; Hàkim, Müstedrek,
إِن اللهَ جَمِيلٌ، يُحِبُّ الْجَمَالَ (م. حم. حب. ك. هب. عن عبد الله بن مسعود)
(Inna’llàhe jemîlun yuhibbu’l-jemâl) "Allah is the most
beautiful and loves beauties." One could love Allah; why would we fear? We have to avoid the wrath of Allah; we must fear the hellfire.
We have to keep ourselves from falling into the hellfire. "O believers! Protect yourselves from going to hell."
How are we going to protect ourselves? We will avoid hellfire by not committing offenses. Hell is a terrifying place that is hard to describe. The Prophet SAS said, "If a drop of zaqqum--that is the drink that sinners will be given in hell--fell to the oceans, it would
make the whole hydrosphere bitter. Woe to those who will be punished with such a drink!"
Can you imagine how potent it is? One small drop will poison
all of the oceans on earth. What will happen to people who would
drink that?
كَالْمُهْلِ يَغْلِي فِي الْبُطُونِ .كَغَلْيِ الْحَمِيمِ (الدخان:٥٤-٦٤)
(Yaghlî fi’l-butùn. Keghalyi’l-hamîm) The drinks will be boiling
c.IV, s.201, no:7365; Beyhakî, Şuabü’l-İman, c.V, s.160, no:6192; Begavî, Şerhü’s- Sünneh, c.VI, s.367; Ebû Avâne, Müsned, c.I, s.39, no:85; Abdullah ibn-i Mes’ud RA’dan.
Hàkim, Müstedrek, c.I, s.78, no:70, Abdullah ibn-i Amr RA’dan.
Taberânî, Mu’cemü’l-Kebîr, c.VIII, s.203, no:7822, Ebû Ümâme RA’dan.
Taberânî, Mu’cemü’l-Evsat, c.VII, s.78, no:6906, Câbir RA’dan.
Ebû Ya’lâ, Müsned, c.II, s.320, no:1055; Beyhakî, Şuabü’l-İman, c.V, s.163, no:6201; Kudàî, Müsnedü’ş-Şihâb, c.II, s.143, no:1067; Ebû Saîd el-Hudrî RA’dan.
Taberânî, Müsnedü’ş-Şâmiyyîn, c.III, s.299, no:2322; Enes ibn-i Mâlik RA’dan.
Taberânî, Müsnedü’ş-Şâmiyyîn, c.III, s.330, no:2420; Abdullah ibn-i Ömer RA’dan.
Kenzü’l-Ummâl, c.III, s.528, no:7748, 7763, 7769; c.VI, s.642, no:17188-17190; Câmiu’l-Ehàdîs, c.VIII, s.12, no:6775-6781; RE. 87/11.
and the torment will be immense.
The Prophet SAS said: "O believing brothers and sisters! O believers! O Muslims! Try not to fall into hell." Some people utter
words here that I cannot say. Hell is an important abode because
once a person falls in… It is hard to imagine how terrible it is.
There will be some believers who will fall into Hell that they are listed in a Hadith Qudsi that we are going to look at. There will be some believers who will fall into Hell. Who are they? The sinners; those who do what Allah prohibited. A believer,
but disobedient. He had to obey, but he disobeyed. He had to avoid
hellfire, but he did not! He was not supposed to enter hell as a believer, but he will be punished there.
"Try not to get in to Hell!" said the Prophet SAS because one who enters there will stay there for a while:
لاَِّبثِينَ فِيهَا أَحْقَابًا (النبأ:٣٢)
(Lâbisîne fîhâ ahqàben) "They will stay there as long as huqubs." Huqub is a time period in Arabic. How much does it equal
in our understanding? One huqub is about 80 some years, i.e., a lifetime. Ahqàben means "lifetimes." What is the minumum
number?
اقل الجمع ثلاثة
(Eqallu’l-jem'i thelâtheh) "The minumum of the many is three"
say Arabs. Plural for "two" has a different form in Arabic.
The minimum is three lifetimes—in numbers 3 x 83 = 259 years.
It is some 250 years! One who falls in hell will stay there at least
250 years even if he is a believer.
Is that it? No! The calculation is not over yet. We are going to use our math knowledge. In the Qur'an, Almighty Allah says--may He have mercy on us and forgive us.
وَإِن يَوْماً عِندَ رَبِّكَ كَأَلْفِ سَنَة مِّمَّا تَعُدُّونَ (الحج:٧٤)
(Wa inna yawman inde rabbike ke-elfi senetin mimmâ te'uddûn) "A day in the sight of Allah is a thousand years of your time, be aware!"
A calendar year is 365 days. Each of these days in the hereafter
is 1000 years. One year will be like 365 000 years of our time. 250 x 365 000 years make a very long time. You go and calculate it then
see how terrible it is. The best thing is not to enter Hell at all! Even
a believer will spend millions of years in Hell before he gets out.
Almighty Allah has wisdom; He would not state these in vain:
وَاتَّقُوا النَّارَ الَّتِي أُعِدَّتْ لِلْكَافِرِينَ (اۤل عمران:١٣١)
(Wa’ttaqu’n-nâra’lletî u'iddet li’l-kâfirîn) "Protect yourselves
from the hellfire which is prepared for disbelievers." Almighty
Allah has mercy on believing servants. That is why He is ordering
us to be aware of the hellfire, avoid it and fear from it. In many
verses of the Qur'an, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala orders us to avoid
the hellfire.
Almighty Allah not only orders us to stay away from the hellfire,
but also He teaches us how to do it. Do you know how He teaches
us? Are you aware how He does that? Many people are not aware
of it as a poet put it:
Ol mâhîler ki deryâ ichredur, deryâyi bilmezler.
The fish are in the ocean, yet they are unaware of it.
The fish lives in the ocean, yet does not know what the ocean is.
It is unaware that it lives in the ocean. Similarly, we are in a month-long taqwa training course in Ramadhan. Every year each
Muslim undergoes the training course on taqwa.
If a person receives thirty days of training, he would be a "professor" of it. If an old person with a hump undergoes training
one month every year, he would beat anybody in wrestling. As it continues year after year, people would hesitate to mess with him: "He has a trained body--like elastic. He may overpower us." Every year we receive a month of the taqwa training. Fasting is for the taqwa training. With fasting we learn how to be aware and how to avoid.
"How does Almighty Allah teach us?" Can you survive without water? It is not possible. We need
water, so do the plants, flowers and trees, and crops. If Almighty
Allah does not send water, life stops.
قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَصْبَحَ مَاؤُكُمْ غَوْرًا فَمَنْ يَأْتِيكُمْ بِمَاء مَعِين (الملك:٠٣)
(Qul ara'eytum in asbaha mâukum ghawren femen ye'tikum bi- mâin maîn) (Qur'an 67:30). If Almighty Allah withheld the rain,
and the ground water were to become sunken into the earth, what
would people do? Who would bring flowing water?
Then there is nourishment. We could not survive without food.
We live for a while, but then we loose strength.
365 x 250 000 = Ninety-one million two hundred fifty thousand
years... This is the minimum length of time a Muslim who has fallen
into hell will spend three. Would you still get close to the offenses
and disobey? Can you tolerate the intense fire for this long? You cannot even tolerate the heat of sun and seek a place in shade, put a hat or something else on your head. Ninety-one million two hundred fifty thousand years is not a short time period.
Dear Brothers and Sisters, we have to do our fasting as it should
be done, in a complete way.
c. Two Things that Lead Man to Hellfire
Fasting does not mean a training of the stomach, a tolerance
towards poverty, hunger, and thirst. The control of the sexual
desires is required, too. Fasting teaches to be patient in that aspect,
too. It is an important feeling.
Water is a must; food is a must. Almighty Allah has given the other feeling in mankind, too. It is a very strong feeling. Many
people are disgraced and humiliated because of that feeling. The sexual desires could make and a person humiliated and disgraceful
and take to hellfire.
Our beloved Prophet SAS stated it in a polite manner: Mostly
these two things lead people to hellfire: 41
أَكْثَرُ مَا يُدْخِلُ النَّاسَ النَّارَ اْلأَجْوَفَانِ: َالْفَمُ، وَالْفَرْجُ (حم. خ. في الأدب، ت. ه. ك. حب. هب. عن أبي هريرة)
(Ekseru mâ yudhilü’n-nâse’n-nâra al-acvafân) Ekseriyetle insanları iki boşluk cehenneme sokar:
1. (Al-famu) The organ between two lips, i.e., the tongue. A person may utter improper words that make him a rebel or a disbeliever. His words take him to hellfire. The organ between two lips could lead a person to hellfire.
2. (Wa’l-farcu) The organ between two legs. A person could lead himself to disaster with that organ. Many publishers who have no shame or fear of Allah make a business out of it. There are films,
41 Tirmizî, Sünen, c.IV, s.363, no:2004; Ahmed ibn-i Hanbel, Müsned, c.II, s.442, no:9694; İbn-i Hibbân, Sahîh, c.II, s.224, no:476; Buhàrî, Edebü’l-Müfred, c.I, s.108, no:289, 294; Hàkim, Müstedrek, c.IV, s.360, no:7919; Tayâlisî, Müsned, c.I, s.324, no:2474; Beyhakî, Şuabü’l-İman, c.IV, s.235, no:4914; Kudàî, Müsnedü’ş- Şihâb, c.II, s.137, no:1050; Tahàvî, Müşkilü’l-Âsâr, c.IX, s.470, no:3787; İbn-i Ebi’d- Dünyâ, el-Vera’, c.I, s.93, no:135; Abdullah ibn-i Mübârek, Zühd, c.I, s.379, no:1073; Ramhürmüzî, Emsâlü’l-Hadîs, c.I, s.159, no:132; Mizzî, Tehzîbü’l-Kemâl, c.VIII, s.470; Deylemî, Müsnedü’l-Firdevs, c.II, s.60, no:2340; Begavî, Şerhü’s- Sünneh, c.VI, s.311; Ebû Hüreyre RA’dan.
Kenzü’l-Ummâl, c.XVI, s.141, no:44071; Câmiü’l-Ehàdîs, c.V, s.357, no:4283; RE. 80/3.
theatres, bars, nightclubs that thrive on this matter. Businesses
are established on it. These businesses are established on the bridge
over Hell or in Hell. They have glittering lights, attractive windows,
and alluring views. They sell all kinds of liqueur. They all try to take people to hellfire.
Look at the audacity of the mankind! He has no fear of entertaining himself on top of Hell. How ignorant, how stupid, how unaware, how insensitive, how blind this man can be? We must appreciate this month of training and benefit from the fasting. We must succeed in the training, get our certificate and be on the honors list. We have to learn taqwa in this course.
Taqwa is not mere avoiding food and water. It is not mere
staying away from sexual desires, either. There is also the taqwa
of the heart which is to avoid looking at haram. Our beloved
Prophet SAS said:42
اَلْعَيْنَانِ تَزْنِيَانِ (حم. طب. عن ابن مسعود)
(El-aynâni tezniyân) "Eyes commit adultery, too." Can a person
commit adultery while fasting? If he does, what would happen to his fast and taqwa? If eyes commit adultery, if they look at haram,
the rewards of our fast are lost. That is why you shall not look at haram.
Then there are the diseases of the tongue. You have to protect
42 Ahmed ibn-i Hanbel, Müsned, c.I, s.412, no:3912; Taberânî, Mu’cemü’l- Kebîr, c.IX, s.134, no:8661; Ebû Ya’lâ, Müsned, c.IX, s.246, no:5364; İbn-i Ebî Şeybe, Musannef, c.I, s.394, no:384; Bezzâr, Müsned, c.I, s.311, no:1956; Tahàvî, Müşkilü’l-Âsâr, c.VI, s.211, no:2282; Ebû Nuaym, Hilyetü’lEvliya, c.II, s.98; Abdullah ibn-i Mes’ud RA’dan.
Ahmed ibn-i Hanbel, Müsned, c.II, s.344, no:8520; İbn-i Hibbân, Sahîh, c.X, s.267, no:4419; Beyhakî, Şuabü’l-İmân, c.IV, s.365, no:5428; Beyhakî, Sünenü’l- Kübrâ, c.VII, s.89, no:13289; Begavî, Şerhü’s-Sünneh, c.I, s.72; İshak ibn-i Râhaveyh, Müsned, c.I, s.116, no:30; Bezzâr, Müsned, c.II, s.473, no:8913; Tahàvî, Müşkilü’l-Âsâr, c.VI, s.213, no:2284; Ebû Hüreyre RA’dan.
Kenzü’l-Ummâl, c.V, s.327, no:13062; Keşfü’l-Hafâ, c.II, s.77, no:1799; Mecmaü’z-Zevâid, c.VI, s.390, no:10543; Câmiü’l-Ehàdîs, c.XIV, s.382, no:14541.
it from sins, too. There are the diseases of the ears; one has to protect them from haram. The tongue has to be protected from
haram; the hands should not reach haram. The feet shall not walk
towards haram. When all of your body, physically and spiritually,
learns taqwa, then your fast is accepted.
Imam Al Ghazzâlî talks about three levels of fasting:
1. The fast of the layman (awâm): It is the fast of masses; simple
avoidance of food, water and sexual intercourse. That is all. 2. The fast of the elite (hawâs): in addition to avoiding food,
water and sex, eyes are saved from looking at haram; ears and tongue are saved from haram, too. His hand does not reach haram,
nor do his feet walk to haram. Total abstinence from haram is observed. That is the true fast. If the eyes are not prevented from looking at haram; tongue,
from lies and backbiting, then the fast of the elite is broken. He loses all the rewards. Our beloved Prophet SAS said:43
رُب صَائِم لَيْسَ لَهُ مِنْ صِيَامِهِ إِلاَّ الْجُوعُ وَالْعَطَشُ (حم . خز. ع . هب. ق. كر. عن أبي هريرة؛ طب. عد. عن ابن عمر )
(Rubbe sàimin) "There are many people who fast, (leyse lehû bi
43 İbn-i Mâce, Sünen, c.I, s.539, no:1690; Ahmed ibn-i Hanbel, Müsned, c.II, s.373, no:8843; İbn-i Hibbân, Sahîh, c.VIII, s.257, no:3481; Hàkim, Müstedrek, c.I, s.596, no:1571; İbn-i Huzeyme, Sahîh, c.III, s.242, no:1997; Ebû Ya’lâ, Müsned, c.XI, s.429, no:6551; Beyhakî, Şuabü’l-İman, c.III, s.316, no:3642; Beyhakî, Sünenü’l-Kübrâ, c.IV, s.270, no:8097; Neseî, Sünenü’l-Kübrâ, c.II, s.239, no:3249; Kudàî, Müsnedü’ş-Şihâb, c.II, s.309, no:1425; Abdullah ibn-i Mübârek, Müsned, c.I, s.78, no:77; İbn-i Asâkir, Târih-i Dimaşk, c.XXXVII, s.346; Deylemî, Müsnedü’l- Firdevs, c.II, s.268, no:3248; Begavî, Şerhü’s-Sünneh, c.III, s.250; Ebû Hüreyre RA’dan.
Taberânî, Mu’cemü’l-Kebîr, c.XII, s.382, no:13413; Kudàî, Müsnedü’ş-Şihâb, c.II, s.309, no:1424; İbn-i Adiy, Kâmil fi’d-Duafâ, c.VI, s.401; Abdullah ibn-i Ömer RA’dan.
Kenzü’l-Ummâl, c.III, s.853, no:7491; Keşfü’l-Hafâ, c.II, s.348, no:1365; Câmiü’l-Ehàdîs, c.XIII, s.101, no:12658, 12661; Münzirî, et-Tergîb, c.II, s.94, no:1646.
siyâmihî il-le’l-jûi wa’l-atash) yet they do not benefit from it. They
remain hungry and thirsty till the evening." That is the fast of the masses which is not favored because they look at haram, listen to haram, uttered haram, or reached haram. That is why this kind of fast is not acceptable.
3, There is the fast of the elite of the elite (hâssu’l-hawâs). They
keep themselves away from the mâsiwallah (anything other than
Almighty Allah). They enjoy the beauty of Allah. Their fast is to disconnect themselves from the mâsiwallah. Of course that is beyond our comprehension. We can understand
the second kind of fasting: hunger, thirst and staying away from all kinds of sins. Then our fasting is accepted.
Suppose that in this month, we keep ourselves away from
offenses during the day, yet commit them at night. That would not be acceptable. As the poet put it: "Could a person promise in the evening and change his mind in the morning?" Here is another one: "He tells the truth at the police station yet gets confused in the court
house." One fasts the whole day--mâshaAllah! Then you look at him in the evening, when he breaks his fast, he heads to the places
of offences. That is not acceptable. What was the purpose of fasting? What happened to your training?
Mehmed Akif RhA has a story in his Safahat: A drunkard decided to give up drinking: "I promise, I repent. I am not going to drink wine again!" As he walked on the street of the bar, his heart started pounding. As he walked by the entrance
of the bar, the excitement peaked. He consoled himself: "You
promised! Don't get excited. Do not look at the entrance. Go on.
Walk away!"
He paused at the entrance. Nevertheless, he continued walking
on the street encouraging himself. He looked forward, but his mind
was still at the bar. He moved away. He wanted to drink. He managed to reach the end of the street. He stopped there and said:
"Congratulations! You did it! Let me reward you with a glass of drink!" He returned to the bar.
What happened? What happened to the repentance? What
happened top the promise? Is this how one repents?
Dear Brothers and Sisters! Would it be acceptable to fast during
the day and commit sins in the evening?
Our beloved Prophet SAS said: "Allah Almighty made an obligation on you to fast during the days in this blessed month, and He made praying at night a voluntary but very rewarding worship
for you." You will fast during the day and get up at night to offer
tehejjud (night vigil) prayers. You shall spend your nights in prayers. It is not proper to fast during the day and go for dancing
at night. One should not go for drinking at night having fasted the whole day. I see some of the elderly people who light a cigarette as soon as the call for maghrib is heard or the cannon is fired. O blessed man,
dear brother, beloved brother, pupil of my eye! Haven't you been
patient throughout the day? Why don't you continue being patient
in the evening, too? Why do you break your covenant in the evening? Smoking is makruh [according to most tolerant opinions].
Our scholars have studied the matter and classified smoking as kerahat-i tahrimiya (close to haram). Okay, makruh; we accept the opinions of the scholars. Yet there are scholars who classify
smoking as "haram." They prove their points: "Wasting resources
is haram. Consuming something that is harmful to health is haram. Smoke is harmful to body. Therefore, smoking is haram."
When I was a college professor, I went to the Sahaflar Bazaar in Istanbul. I bought a precious manuscript. The manuscripts sold there are very valuable because they are antiques. They were
written some 300 year ago. When the smoking was invented, the scholar who authored the book consulted the qaadis (scholars who issue jurisdictions on the religious matters) of the four schools of thought (Hanafî, Shafi'î, Mâlikî, Hanbelî) in Mekka-i Mukarramah
about smoking.
Most people in Turkey are Hanafîs. In the eastern part, there
are some brothers and sisters who follow the Imam Shafî. The grave of Hadrat Imam Shafî is in Cairo. Hadrat Abu Hanifa is buried in Baghdad. "Ana gibi yâr Baghdâd gibi diyar olmaz--The is no friend like one's mother, and no locality like Baghdad."
Abdulqàdir-i Geylânî QS is buried in Baghdad, too. The scholars of the four schools of thought were asked about
smoking, and the author collected the answers in that booklet. All of them stated that it was haram. The matter is controversial; there
are scholars who classify it as haram, yet there is no person who says it is good and useful. The medical doctors say: "If you are a smoker, you are committing suicide slowly."
In the hospitals there are signs: "Please do not smoke here.
Smoking is prohibited." Some establishments have the sign: "We thank you for not smoking here." Smoking is prohibited in motor
vehicles, buses, and airplanes. It is harmful for health. It is also harmful for the nonsmoker. The smoke hurts nonsmokers, too. Man fasts during the day and smokes in the evening; he even
breaks his fast by smoking. O blessed person! Almighty Allah has given you an opportunity; you were patient during the day, You should be patient in the evening and tomorrow! Then you quit smoking all together. Save yourself from this bad habit, and get your good health back.
A friend of mine who was a professor of law told me about an incident. We had classes at the same school. He started out his profession as a public prosecutor. He had to present at the scene of the death or crime. The official procedure is started with his order.
He said: "Once I was called for an incident that a national swimmer
got drowned in water." The swimmer was 18-20 years old. The prosecutor was called. There was a German professor in the mortuary.
During the autopsy, somebody suggested: "The swimmer had a cramp and got drowned."
The German Professor objected: "No No! If he had a cramp, he would keep himself floating. He would not have been drowned.
They asked the professor: "How did he get drowned, then?"
"Look at his fingers!" said the professor. "He is a chain smoker."
The smoke and the tar of the cigarette had stained his fingers.
"How did he get drowned then?"
In the post mortem, they opened up his chest and removed his lungs. My friend said: "They had latex gloves. They got the lungs
out and lifted up. The lower parts of the lungs were black, turning
dark-brown moving up. When the German professor squeezed the lungs, black tar came out like beads." He said: "His lungs were full of smoke. When he swam, his body needed the oxygen for the muscles. His lungs could not provide necessary oxygen. He swam
and died of lack of oxygen."
In brief, smoking is harmful. Doctors are against it, the scholars
of jurisprudence are against it. One has to give it up. If there are smokers among you, let them learn a lesson from this.
Dear Brothers and sisters! We shall learn how to stay away
from sins, bad deeds and makruhs in this month of Ramadhan.
It is stated in a Hadith Qudsî: "When you commit an offense, do not look at if it is a minor or major offense; look at whom you have
committed it against." If something is done against the order of Allah, then you cannot say it is a minor offense. We would not dare to commit an offense before Almighty Allah. In Ramadhan, we must learn staying away from major and minor offenses.
Today I intended to deliver a short talk, but it got longer as we do mathematical calculations and explain taqwa. Before I end my talk, let me read the rest of the Hadith Qudsî as I promised:
d. Those Who are Headed to Hellfire
This Hadith Qudsî lists people who are headed to Hell. Let me tell you the list, so you will be aware. If someone close to you or a relative has these shortcomings, inform him or her, too. You also correct yourselves if you have the traces of these shortcomings.
يَا ابْنَ اۤدَ مَ! مَ ا هٰذَا النِّ يرَانُ اِ لاَّ لِكُلِّ عَاقِّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ ، وَلِ كُلِّ بَخِيل ،
وَنَمَّام ، وَمُرَاء ، وَمَ انِعِ الزَّكَاةِ ، وَاۤكِلِ الرِّبَا، وَشـَارِبِ الــْخَ مْ رِ، وَظَالِمِ
الْيَتيمِ، وَالاَجِيرِ الـْ غـَادِرِ ، وَالنَّ ايِحَةِ، وَجَ امِعِ الْحَرَامِ، وَنَ اسِيَ اْلقُراۤنِ ،
وَلِكُلِّ فَاجِر ، وَمـُؤَذِّي الْجِــيـرَ انِ ؛ إِلاَّ مَنْ تَابَ، وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلاً
صَالِحًا فَأُوْلَئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَات وَكَانَ اللهُ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا
(الفرقان:٠٧) فَ ارْحَ مـُوا اَنـْ فُـسَكُمْ يَا عـِبَادِي، فَاِ نَّ الاَبْدَانُ ضَ عِـيفـَةٌ،
وَالسَّـفَرُ بـَ عِـيدٌ، وَالــْحَمْـلُ ثَ قـِيلٌ، وَالْمُ ـنَادِي اِسْـرَافِـيـلُ، وَالـنـَّارُ تَلَظَّى،
وَالـْ قـَ اضِــى رَبُّ الْعَ الَ مِــينَ ، وَ يُحَذِّرُكُمُ اللهُ نَ فــسَــهُ .
(Ye’bne âdem ) "O son of Adam!" We all are the children of Hadrat Adam. We all are brothers and sisters in fact. Hadrat
Adam is our great grand father.
(Mâ hâze’n-nîrânu) "This fire is for these: --Here the offences are listed; you pay attention and keep them in mind!-- 1. (Illâ li-kulli àqqi’l-walideyn) "For those who disobey their
parents."
If there is anybody among you who is not in peace with his parents, he should go to his parents, kiss their hands and make
peace with them. If you have disobeyed your parents, go and make
them happy because those who disobey the parents will end up in Hell.
There is a hadith of our beloved Prophet SAS: As the prophet
was climbing up the pulpit to deliver a sermon, Jibrîl AS said: "Woe
to the person who reached his parents yet failed to earn paradise.
Let him be humiliated." The prophet SAS said, "Amen!"
What do we understand from this hadith? Those who disobey
the parents incur the wrath of Jibrîl AS and the Prophet SAS.
When a person makes peace with his parents, Jibrîl AS, angels and the Prophet will be happy. That is why we should make our parents
happy and get their prayers. We should kiss their hands and give gifts for them. We have find ways to keep them happy.
Did you know that the money spent on the parents is rewarded
in seven hundred folds? Is is a valuable as the money spent in Jihad. That is why you ought to make them happy. Do not be rebels
against your parents. If you have a situation like that, go and make
peace with them.
When I was a faculty member at the university, a student
knocked at my door. We tried to maintain some distance between
us and the students [so that they maintain the respect for the professors], yet when it is necessary, we would talk with individual
students. He said, "Professor, could I come inside?"
I responded: "Yes, please come in." The student had a beard. He said, "I want to talk to you."
"Go ahead."
"Sir, my father has kicked me out of the house. He said that I am no longer his son."
"O dear! Why?"
"He did because I keep a beard."
"What does he do for living?"
The father produced musical instruments. He did not like his son keeping a beard or becoming a religious person. He kicked him out of the house.
"Where and how do you live now?" I wanted to help him. "I am well financially. I live in an apartment. I do not need any financial support. However, this is the situation."
I told him the following:
"The consent of the parents is very important. You should write
them a letter." These were the words that Almighty Allah had me
utter. "Write with a peasant style. Say, 'My Dear beloved
respectable mother and father! I kiss your hands and feet. My belief, Islam, orders me to be a good child to you. I want to do that.
Please provide me that opportunity. You got angry at me and expelled me from your house. Allow me kiss your hand and feet and serve you. Let me be a good son to you. This is what I want.
However, please do not ask me to disobey Almighty Allah. Do not ask me to deviate from the path of Allah. Do not ask me to disregard
the orders of Allah. Then I would prefer the path of Allah while my heart cries because He is the Lord of the Universe, my Creator; you are nothing compared to Him. In that case, I follow the orders of Allah and disobey you. Please do not let me be in that difficult
situation. I want to serve you.'" I am sure the student came to me with a sincere intention, and Almighty Allah had me say these
words.
He said, "Yes Sir!" and left.
Several moths passed. The student appeared at my door. He was with a young lady who was in hijab--head to toe covered in loose
overcoat. She had gloves, too. He asked, "Professor, could we come
in?" I took them in. I thought the student was getting married: the young lady next to him was his fiancée. He asked, "Sir do you know
this girl?"
"No I do not. This is the first time I saw her. How would I know
her?"
"This is my sister. Remember, you told me to write a letter to my parents. I wrote it the way you told me. The letter had an impact in the house like a bomb! My mother cried, so did my father
and my sister."
Due to the sincerity in the letter, the father changed his mind
and took the child home. They made peace alhamdu lillâh. Some months later, the student appeared at my door again: "Sir, could I come in?" "Come on in!"
"Sir, good news!"
"May it be real good. What happened?"
"My father, mother, my brothers and sisters, we all are going for Hajj."
Al-hamdu lillâh! How nice! If you have a conflict with your parents, try to eradicate it in this manner. It is possible that sometimes the parents are wrong.
"I am going to serve liqueur in the restaurant!" says the father.
"Why, Dad?"
"Son, there are not many customer. If there is liqueur, we will get more customers and get their money. The regular restaurant
has not produced much money."
"Dad! If you are going to serve liqueur in the restaurant, let me move out of your house because I cannot accept sustenance from
haram sources. I would not put haram food in my mouth. If you are going to sell wine, let me leave the house. If you do not want
me to leave, then do not bring liqueur to the restaurant."
Sometimes the fathers are on the wrong path. Then the children
correct them. Sometimes the children are rebellions and on the wrong path, the parents try to bring them to the straight path.
Yet the child becomes a rebel not listening to anybody and causing great distress on the parents. This is called âkkul walideyn: the disobedient child that hurts the parents. He is headed to Hell.
2. (Wa li-kulli bakhîlin) "And the stingy." The avaricious and miserly people will go to Hell.
You may say: "Not everybody could give things away. Money is warm and hard to get it out of the hands. Everybody wants some
money in his pocket. What is the measure of stinginess? What is the limit?"
My response would be: "The limit of being free from the stinginess is paying zakah. One who pays his zakah is not stingy.
One who does not pay zakah is stingy. One who pays zakah fulfils
the obligation and cleared off the stinginess. The minimum is the
zakah."
You should pay your zakah in Ramadhan and do not neglect it!
If you pay your zakah in Ramadhan, you get 70-fold rewards. Also keep one thing in mind: Paying zakah is also the minimum border
of generosity, the lowest level of it. "What is the upper limit?"
"The upper limit is giving everything for Allah."
"Who would do something like that? Is there an example?"
"Sure. Hadrat Abûbakr as-Siddiq RA gave everything for Allah."
Hadrat Omar ibn-i Khattab RA gave half of waht he had. He thought that he would be giving more that Hadrat Abubakr RA did thus beat him in competition. When he arrived to the masjid, he learned that Hadrat Abubakr RA gave everything he had. The Prophet SAS asked Hadrat Abubakr RA: "What did you leave for your family O Abubakr?"
His response was, "I left Allah and his Messenger."
Isn't Allah the Razzaq (The Sustainer), Ghanî (The Rich),
Mughnî (The Enricher) and Mu'tî (The Giver of all things)? Allah
provides the wealth, the sustenance. When the Prophet SAS is consent, would a person be deprived of anything? When a person is "siddiq," when the faith of a person is at that level, he would give all he has for Allah including his life. He would give it willingly.
3. (Wa nemmâmin) Nemmam is a backbiter. He takes
somebody's words about somebody else and spreads it. That created
mischief among people. The backbiter will go to hell. 4. (Wa murâin) Murâi is a person who does worship for people
to see; thus he expects a worldly benefit from it. He has no sincerity.
He is after fame and worldly benefits. The consent of Allah is not his concern; he wants to affect people with his worship. His worship
is not acceptable; he will go to Hell.
5. (Wa mâni'iz-zekâti) One who prevents the payment of zakah,
one who does not pay zakah, will go to Hell.
It is possible that a person interferes with the payment of zakah.
For instance, one of our brothers donated a large sum of money for the local branch of our foundation. The next day a friend of his father chastised him: "This generosity is too much; it is unacceptable."
Our brother responded: "Sir, you were a close friend of my father. You had a good understanding of one another. You know he is dead now." He meant: "Death could come at any time. One has to accumulate good deeds for the hereafter. My father is dead, and you were friends. You could die soon, too. You should spend on charitable causes, too." "Do not threaten me with death! Do not scare me with death!"
That is the response he got. Almighty Allah has mysterious ways of handling His servants.
Several days passed. The city administration decided to buy a lot in the middle of downtown that belonged to the man. The payment
was much below the market value. That was somehow a punishment for him because he wanted to prevent a spending on good cause.
That was an example of people who try to prevent spending for good a cause.
6. (Wa âkilu’r-ribâ) One who is involved in interest. One who receives interest, one who pays interest, one who "eats" interest are headed to hellfire.
7. (Wa shâribi’l-khamr) One who drinks liqueur. He will end up in Hell.
8. (Wa zàlimi’l-yetîm) One who maltreats the orphan, takes
advantage of him, and gets his property. He is headed to hell, too. 9. (Wal ejîri’l-ghàdir) One who employs people but does not pay them properly. He will go to Hell.
There are some people who do that. I know of many brothers
who undertook projects as subcontractors in Saudi Arabia. They
could not receive their money from the main company. The main
company could not get their payments either. There are also people
in Libya. Kaddafi did not pay for the projects; the employees could
not receive their salaries.
Those who have the employees work but do not pay them at all or properly will go to Hell. There are some rootless people who chase the workers away when it is time to pay them. The workers
are intimidated, so they do not seek justice in the courts. Yet, in the hereafter, almighty Allah will question the employers who do injustice to his employees.
10. (Wan-nâyihati) Professional wailer who cry, scream and praise for a deceased person. There used to be some women who were invited to house of the deceased person. They would scream,
pull her hair, tear her clothes, say good words about the person and cry. 11. (Wa jâmi'i’l-haram) Those who gather haram wealth and property. Such people are headed to hellfire.
12. (Wa’n-nâsi’l-qur'ân) One who forgets the Qur'an will go to hell, too. Forgetting the Qur'an could be in two ways:
a. He had memorized the Qur'an in the past, yet neglected
repeating and reciting. He had forgotten what he had memorized.
This happens often. To forget what one had memorized is a major
sin. Forgetting would mean not paying enough attention to the Qur'an.
"Do you know the surah Ar-Rahman by heart?"
"I used to, but I cannot recite by heart now."
"You knew Tabaraka (Surah Mulk), recite that."
"I forgot."
It is a sin to forget the part of the Qur'an that was memorized
before.
b. Another forgetting is the orders of the Qur'an. A Muslim has to carry out the orders of the Qur'an. He has to comply with them.
He has to follow the orders of Allah and stay away from haram.
13. (Wa li-kulli fâjir) Those who commit sins [openly].
14. (Wa mu'zi’l-jirân) One who creates problems for his neighbor. In one of the towns we visited, somebody complained:
"Khawaja! I live in a neighborhood. My neighbors threaten me with
guns."
"May Allah protect you form their evil. I pray that Almighty
Allah correct then, take you away from them, or take them away
from there."
Those who create problems for the neighbors are headed to hellfire.
Let me give you the list of people who are headed to hellfire:
Those who are rebellious towards their parents, the stingy, the backbiter, those who do the worship for worldly benefits, those who do not pay zakah, those who indulge in interest, those who drink
liqueur, those who do injustice to orphans, those who mistreat their
employees, the professional wailers, those who accumulate haram
wealth and property, those who forget the Qur'an, those who commit sins openly, and those who create problems for the neighbors. These are the people headed for the hellfire even if they are believers.
You may ask: "Khawaja, what are we going to do if we have part of what you have listed? What if we are just a bit stingy? What if we had some backbiting? What if we have showed of when we prayed? What if we failed to pay the zakah in full? It is not easy not be a backbiter."
There is a way of escape:
e. Repentence and Doing Righteous Deeds
إِ مَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلاً صَالِحًا فَأُوْلَئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ
حَسَنَات وَكَانَ اللهُ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا (الفرقان:٠٧)
(Illâ men tâbe) "Except for those who have repented."
Repentance (tawba) means "returning." If a person gave up such
offenses and returned to Allah's path, he is exempted from going to hellfire.
Hadrat Ali RA said: "Mere utterance of the words
'Astaghfiru’llah al-azîm wa atubu ileyh' is the repentance of liars.
If one continues committing the same offences, utterance of these
words is the repentance of liars. The true repentance is abandoning
the offences.
One has to repent, give up the offenses. Sometimes we say, "This person made a turn. She was an actress, singer, dancer, and she repented. Now she observes hijab, tries to practice Islam in full.
He was a drunkard; he made a turn. He was a murderer, made a turn in the prison and became a good person.
First, one should repent. Then (wa âmene wa amile amelen
sàlihan) one must have strong faith and do righteous deeds. He should do deeds that are pleasing to Allah. Those who repent and do good deeds to save their faith are exempted from the hellfire.
What else will happen to them?
(Feulâike yubeddilu’llàhu seyyiâtihim hasenât) "Almighty Allah
converts their offenses to good deeds." He forgives them, wipes out their sins and converts the sins into good deeds. He does that for the repentance of the servant. The sins of the person who has repented are erased.
(Wa kâna’llàhu ghafuran rahîmâ) "Allah Almighty is Ghafûr
and Rahîm. Ghafûr means the most Forgiving. Rahîm means very much Merciful. Almighty Allah forgives and is the most Merciful
towards his servants.
If a servant repents, strengthens his belief, becomes a good
person, and does righteous deeds, Almighty Allah forgives him and converts the bad deeds to good deeds because Almighty Allah is the most Forgiving, the most Merciful.
f. Have Mercy on Yourselves!
فَارْحَمـُوا اَ نـْفُ ـسَكُمْ يَا عـِبَ ادِي! فَاِنَّ اْلاَبْدَانُ ضَعِ ـيفـَةٌ، وَالسَّـفَرُ بـَعِ ـيدٌ،
وَالــْحَمْ ـلُ ثَـقـِيــلٌ، وَالْ مُـنَادِي اِ سْـرَافِـيـلُ، وَالـنـَّ ارُ تَلَظَّى، وَالـْ قـَاضِ ــى رَبُّ
الْعَالَمِــينَ، وَيُحَذِّرُكُمُ اللهُ نَ فْــسَــهُ .
(Farhamû anfusekum yâ ibâdî!) "Then, o My servants, have
mercy on you. (Feinne’l-abdâne daîfetun) because your bodies are weak," they cannot withstand the hellfire. Have pity on yourself!
(Wa’s-safara baîdun) "The journey towards the hereafter is long,
(wa’l-hamlu sakîlun) your burdens and responsibilities are heavy."
Tour bodies are weak, the destination is far and your loads are heavy. (Wa munâdiye isrâfîl) "One to call people is Isrâfîl AS." He will blow the trumpet Sur, and people will rise from dead and gather for the judgment. The destination is far; the load, heavy; the bodies, weak. Have mercy on you and do not indulge in sins.
(Wa’n-nâra telezzâ) "The flames of the hellfire gush out." In a hadith the Prophet SAS said that the Hell will be brought to the place of resurrection. It is something colossal, yet angels will bring
it. It will be restless and anxiously waiting for the sinners. The sinners will be thrown into Hell. Almighty Allah will ask, "O Hell!
Are you full? Do you have any room left?"
Hell will answer: "Is there more, O my Lord? Send them to me." (Wa’l-qàdiy, rabbu’l-àlemîn) ['The judge will be the Lord of the Universe."] Almighty Allah will establish his colossal court and interrogate people. A good work of an atom's weight will be rewarded, and a bad work of an atom's weight is punished.
(Wa yuhazzirukumu’llàhu nafsahû) "Almighty Allah is warning
you from Himself ahead of time." This is the Hadith Qudsî. Our beloved Prophet SAS informed us, and I conveyed to you, too. You do not speak Arabic; you must not have heard this Hadith before.
That is why I explained to you. It addresses both me and you.
g. Ramadhan is the Month of Forgiveness
May Almighty Allah make us believers who do deeds that are
pleasing to Allah. May He free us from the hellfire:44
وَهُوَ شَهْرٌ أَوَّلـُهُ رَحْمَةٌ، وَأَوْسَطُهُ مَغْفِرَةٌ، وَآخِرُهُ عِتْقٌ مِنَ النَّارِ
(خز. ق. عن سلمان)
What is the beginning of the Ramadhan? (Wa huva awwaluhu rahmatun) "The beginning of Ramadhan is the time Allah Almighty
showers His mercy on His servants. (Wa awsatuhû maghfiratun) Its middle part is the time for the servants to be forgiven. (Wa
44 İbn-i Huzeyme, Sahîh, c.III, s.191, no:1887; Beyhakî, Şuabü’l-İman, c.III, s.305, no:3608; Heysemî, Müsnedü’l-Hàris, c.I, s.412, no:321; İbn-i Şâhin, Fadàilü Şehri Ramadàn, c.I, s.18, no:16; Selmân-ı Fârisî RA’dan.
İbn-i Adiy, Kâmil fi’d-Duafâ, c.III, s.311; İbn-i Asâkir, Târih-i Dimaşk, c.XXVII, s.19, no:3146; Ukaylî, Duafâ, c.II, s.162, no:671; İbn-i Hacer, Lisânü’l- Mîzân, c.VI, s.33, no:135; Deylemî, Müsnedü’l-Firdevs, c.I, s.38, no:79; Ebû Hüreyre RA’dan.
Kenzü’l-Ummâl, c.VIII, s.757, no:23714 ve s.961, no:24276; Câmiü’l-Ehàdîs, c.XXIII, s.176, no:25782 ve c.XXXV, s.105, no:37946.
âkhiruhû 'itqun minan-nâr) Its latter part is the time to be free from hellfire." Muslims will be given a certificate: "O My servant!
I have forgiven you your sins. You are not going to enter Hell. Here
is your certificate of freedom from Hell."
To whom will these spiritual certificates be issued?
It will be issued for those who spend the Ramadhan as pleasing
to Allah Almighty.
Dear Brother and Sisters!
It is not too late! The Ramadhan has not ended yet! There is still time and means! Fear Allah! Be aware of Him! Take taqwa as your principle in life and observe taqwa in everything you do! Fast during the day, but do not commit offenses at night! Walk steady
on the path of Allah. Be knowledgeable, wise, sagacious and obedient servants! Do not miss the certificate of freedom from
Hellfire! Do not miss the opportunity of Ramadhan; some may not make it to the next Ramadhan. You may not get the same
opportunity.
May Almighty Allah awaken us from the sleep of unawareness.
May He enable us to do deeds that are pleasing to Him. May He keep us on His path and busy us with His remembrance. May He receive us as His beloved servants.
[I end my talk] with the respect for His beloved Prophet
Muhammed the Chosen, with the respect for the month of Ramadhan, and with the respect for the secrets of surah Fâtihah!
February 11, 1995 - Adana, TURKEY
Ramadhan 11, 1415