You can listen to Imam Adam’s Khutbah above (starts at 6:05), watch it below, or read the summary below. 

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ

Inna anzalnahu fee laylati alqadri

Indeed, We sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree.

 وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ

Wama adraka ma laylatu alqadri

And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree?

 لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ

Laylatu alqadri khayrun min alfi shahrin

The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.

تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ 

Tanazzalu almalaikatu waalrroohu feeha biithni rabbihim min kulli amrin

The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter.

سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ

Salamun hiya hatta matlaAAi alfajri

Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.

(Surah Al-Qadr, Quran 97:1-5)

All praises are due to Allah and may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon His Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

Just as Ramadan started, now it’s about to go. We just have one other week. We just have these last nights of Ramadan, the last 10 nights which are the most blessed of nights in this month.

Opportunities

Allah tells us about the importance of the blessing of these last 10 nights. It’s an opportunity for us. Maybe we started Ramadan with certain motivation and with certain inspiration. We started Ramadan with all of the Ramadan resolutions that “this Ramadan, I’m going to accomplish this,” or “this Ramadan, I’m going to accomplish that. I’m going to do this much more than what I did last year.”

Maybe we had all of those resolutions. And then there’s that Ramadan slump, which is the middle of Ramadan. Allah knows how we we tick. He knows what makes us keep going. He knows how to motivate us. And so He chose these last 10 nights as an opportunity for us.

In the hadith of the Prophet (pbuh), he said,

مَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِه

“Whoever prays during the night in Ramadan out of sincere faith and seeking its reward from Allah, will have all of his previous sins forgiven.”

(Hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah, Sahih al-Bukhari)

مَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ – the person who stands in prayer throughout the month of Ramadan, their previous sins will be forgiven غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ – all of their previous sins will be forgiven. And then he also adds وَمَنْ قَامَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ – and whoever specifically prays on the night of Al-Qadr, their previous sins and mistakes and shortcomings will also be forgiven.

So you have a general chance throughout the month of Ramadan for your sins to be forgiven. And even within that, that’s not enough for us. We also have Laylatul Qadr as an opportunity.

What makes us motivated?

I was reading about what is it that makes us motivated? What is it that makes us want to accomplish certain things?

Psychologists say that part of what makes us motivated to accomplish and to do, is achieving that balance. Wanting to have balance in our life. When there’s imbalance in our lives, then we feel agitated and we feel like we need to make some kind of corrections. For the rest of the year, we live our “normal” lives. In those normal lives, there are shortcomings.

Just like when we earn our wealth, we try our best that our income and that how we spend it and how we earn it that it’s halal income, that it is pure, it is permissible, that it is pleasing to the eyes of Allah. We still have to give that Zakat because we are meant to purify that.

So in this blessed month of Ramadan and in these blessed last nights, there’s an opportunity to purify our deeds and to achieve that balance.

What it will come down to is our own ability to have that discipline that we need in order to get it done.

Because we live in a world where there’s so much distraction. It’s so easy to get into distraction. There’s an unlimited amount of entertainment. The Netflix stock fell last week, why? There’s so many different competing services. There’s just too much entertainment. There’s too much opportunity to be distracted.

If we are able to discipline ourselves against that, we’re able to take advantage of these last 10 nights. Then we can achieve that balance and we can purify our deeds. We can purify our self. Allah has given us that opportunity, especially in this last week of Ramadan.

Blessings of Laylatul-Qadr

So let’s talk about the blessings of Laylatul Qadr and let’s remind ourselves of the blessings of Laylatul Qadr.

The Prophet (pbuh) said that, “the one that has been denied the blessing of Laylatul Qadr has surely been denied.”

If you were to lose anything, and you were to lose Laylatul Qadr, you have been denied Allah’s blessing.

So what are you going to do in order to take advantage of that blessing?

It comes down to you in your own context in your own situation. Don’t compare yourself to what everyone else is doing. But compare yourself to yourself.

What did you do last year? Or think about what was my best? What were my best last 10 nights of Ramadan in my life? How can I achieve that again? How can I do more than that this year? How can I achieve just a little more than that this year and make this year the best last nights of Ramadan for me?

One of the secrets that the Prophet (pbuh) told us is that if you pray isha in Jama’a and you pray Fajr in Jama’a, then it is as if you have prayed the entire night. If you’re able to join, then join us. If you’re not, then at very least, make that intention so that it will be as if you have prayed the entire night.

Dua of Laylatul-Qadr

Another thing that the Prophet (pbuh) taught us was through his wife, A’isha (ra). His beloved wife Aisha (ra) asked him, “What should we be doing? What should we be praying? What dua should we make during these last 10 nights during the Laylatul Qadr? Out of all the duas that you could make to Allah, what is the dua that we should make?”

The Prophet (pbuh) replied with this beautiful dua. He said you should supplicate to Allah and you should make this dua:

 اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

Allahumma innaka afuwwun tuhibbul afwa fa’fu annee

 “O Allah, You are Forgiving and love forgiveness, so forgive me”

اَللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفْوٌ – Oh Allah You are The Forgiving.

تٌحِبٌّ العَفْوَ – You love to forgive.

فَأَعْفَوْ عَنِّي – So forgive me.

Oh Allah, You are The Forgiving and You love to forgive, forgive me. And ‘afuw is different from al-Ghufran. Allah is al-Ghafur and al-Ghaffar. The meaning of al-Ghufran is to cover. The shortcoming, mistake, sin is still there, but it’s been covered up.

Ghufran is akin to how human beings might forgive. Human beings forgive you but they still remember. The wound is still there. You can say sorry, “I apologize.” They can say, “I accept your apology.” But it’s only covered up. It’s still there.

But when Allah promises us forgiveness, He promises us al-‘afuw, which is the kind of forgiveness which is complete erasure as if it never happened. As if that mistake, that sin, never happened. That opportunity is there especially in these last 10 nights, my brothers and sisters.

Earning Forgiveness

That is something that if we wish to achieve that from Allah and to receive that from Allah, then it is something that we should offer up to those around us as well. That’s another important thing that we forget. In the spirit of the month of Ramadan where we are wanting to earn Allah’s forgiveness, we should also offer up that forgiveness to others.

What do I mean by that? We should make sure that if there is anyone in our life, we are holding something against them, we have even a small bit of malice or anger or hatred towards them, that we should release that and we should remove that. That is how we can earn His forgiveness- when we are forgiving towards other.

الرَّاحِمُونَ يَرْحَمُهُمُ الرَّحْمَ – those that are forgiving and merciful, Allah will be merciful and forgiving to them.

Allah doesn’t get caught up in petty things, small things, small arguments and disagreements that turn into huge ones, because egos were harmed. Let’s not let our ego get in the way of forgiveness from Allah, which can be earned, not only through asking Allah, but by offering that forgiveness to others as well.

As you get older and as you become more stuck in your ways, “you know what you know,” then that becomes even more dangerous. Because your heart can become cold and hard and it can be easy to just break off a relation, that it’s “not worth it.”

There was research done between Americans and Europeans about family matters. They found that Americans were much more likely to have strained and broken family relationships when compared to Europeans. Not even to the east, but to Europeans. That was such an interesting research because we live in a time where people complain that they are lonely and they complain that they don’t have strong relationships. They complain that they are secluded or isolated.

The solution is right there. We need people. We are social creatures. That is how Allah has created us and that is why Allah and the Prophet (pbuh) told us that,

الرَّحِمُ شُجْنَةٌ مِنَ اللهِ، مَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَمَنْ وَصَلَهَا وَصَلَهُ اللَّهُ، وَمَنْ قَطَعَهَا قَطَعَهُ اللَّهُ

“Kinship (rahim) is derived from Allah. If anyone maintains ties of kinship Allah maintains ties with him. If anyone cuts them off, Allah cuts him off.”

(Reported by ‘A’isha (ra), Sahih Al-Adab, Al-Mufrad, 55)

مَنْ وَصَلَهَا وَصَلَهُ اللَّهُ ، وَمَنْ قَطَعَهَا قَطَعَهُ اللَّهُ‏‏ – “whoever mends their family relations, Allah connects with them. And the one who breaks their family relations, Allah disconnects from that person.”

So if we wish to be someone who connects with Allah, then how can we mend our family relationships? How can we offer that forgiveness which we seek from Allah? How can we offer that forgiveness to those that are closest to us, or who once upon a time were closest to us?

Don’t think to yourself that “Oh, I don’t need that person. It’s not worth it to me.” I’m sure there’s those 1% of relationships that are abusive, whether it’s physical or emotional, and so on, and that’s one side. But the majority of relationships have the potential to be mended and for there to be ihsan and excellence within that relationship.

We should take that opportunity in this month of Ramadan, the month of generosity where we are generous not only with our wallet, we are also generous with our heart. It is the time when we should not hold on to anger. Even though we may be hangry (hungry and angry), this is the time when we should let go all of that anger. That is an opportunity for us.

Achieving Mindfulness

When Allah describes the people of taqwa, the people of consciousness, the people that are mindful, the people that are mindful of Allah. He describes those who swallow their anger and forgive others. Those are two huge characteristics of the people of taqwa.

Isn’t that what we are trying to achieve? In this month of Ramadan, we are trying to achieve mindfulness of Allah.

When I am praying in the middle of prayer, mindfulness, of course, it’s going to come easy to me. I am in the presence of Allah. I’m praying to Allah.

But in the moment of anger, in the moment when someone says something that I disagree with, the moment when someone says something which might hurt me or might get on my nerves. When someone says that, in that moment, in that difficult moment, am I able to have that taqwa which I want in the month of Ramadan? Am I able, when I have that opportunity, to forgive someone else? To forgive them?

Do I take that opportunity? Or do I let it go because of my ego? Do I take that opportunity because Allah has given me that opportunity, and I’m mindful of him and I realize that by taking the opportunity to forgive someone else, I’m receiving the opportunity from Allah?

That’s something that we should also remember in these last days along with the worship that we wish to undertake. How are we bringing mindfulness of Allah not only in our worship, but throughout the rest of our life?

So we ask Allah that He helps us with it. I ask Allah that He helps us to mend our family relations and connect with our family members, and our friends. Ameen

أقول قولي هذا وأستغفر الله لي ولكم ولسائر المسلمين فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ

I say what you have heard and I seek forgiveness from Allah for me and you from every sin.

بِسْ مِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ،الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ 

In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful. All praise is to Allah, and peace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah.

The Meaning(s) of Laylatul-Qadr

When it comes to Laylatul Qadr, commonly translated as the Night of Power, the meaning of the word al-Qadr actually has several meanings.

The first meaning of al-Qadr is to honor. Allah says:

وَمَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ

Wama qadaroo Allaha haqqa qadrihi

They have not appraised Allah with true appraisal

(Surah Az-Zumar, Quran 39:67)

وَمَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ – that they did not give Allah the honor as He deserves in their lives.

May Allah make us from those who honor Allah. Laylatul Qadr is a night of Honor. It is the night when Allah honored us with the Quran, when He honored us with the Messenger (pbuh), when He honored us with His book, with His words. This is the night of honor.

The second meaning of al-Qadr is to set the boundaries of something. Set the limits of conduct.

فَقَدَّرَهُ تَقْدِيرًا ‎ – Allah created the universe and He set its boundaries. He set the laws of the universe, the natural laws, we have come to know. That is another meaning of Qadr, something so great it expands your mind when you think about how Allah. He created the entire universe and He set its boundaries and a celebration of that is Laylatul Qadr.

It is also the time when the rizq is written. It is also a time when the deaths are written. There are many brothers and sisters who were with us last Ramadan and are not here with us today. Many family members or friends that we knew, they did not make it. We prayed janazah in the month right before Ramadan. This is a time when those limits are set and the boundaries are set.

Another meaning of Al-Qadr is related to its mystery. It is a night unknown to us. It is a night that could be any of these 10 nights.

When you know your boss is going to give you the promotion, you’re like alright, “I can relax now. I’ve done all my projects. I’m in line for promotion. They’ve told me, they’ve given me the notice, the letter. Now, I can just relax a little bit.” But if you don’t know you’re going to get it, you don’t know when it’s going to happen, you’re likely to do more.

Laylatul Qadr is hidden from us for that reason. Just like our faith is hidden from us for a reason. Just like whether Allah is pleased with our deeds or not, is hidden from us.

Laylatul Qadr is a reminder of that. Are we going to do what it takes? Are we going to make the most of it?

That One Sincere Moment

One of these last 10 nights could be the night which saves us. It could be the night that one prayer, that one Isha, that one nafl, that one rakat, that one sujood, that one ruku that happens in one of these last 10 nights would be so heavy on the Day of Judgment. It could be so sincere. The intention behind that one sujood could be so sincere and so powerful that it could outweigh any other mistakes. It could outweigh all of our other sins, that one sujood.

So are we going to make that one sujood? Are we going to pray that one rakat that we need in these last 10 nights?

That is something which we should all aim to achieve inshallah. Especially on this weekend, especially when we have some time, we should make some time. Not only come for the Tarawih, but the Qiyam-al-Layl and the night prayers as well. Inshallah you will join, inshallah you will participate, and you will aim to achieve that one moment that we need. That’s all we need, that one moment.

Shade on the Day of Judgement

Allah tells us that on the Day of Judgment, there will be those who are under His shade on the day when there is no shade but His shade. There is no shade but the shade of His Throne.

The people that will be under that shade- Among them will be two people who came together for the sake of Allah and they parted ways for the sake of Allah. May we be amongst them that we came here together for the sake of Allah and we parted ways for the sake of Allah.

One other group of people under Allah’s shade on the Day of Judgment will be those who were in seclusion and they remembered Allah and their eyes welled up with tears. That moment when they remembered Allah and they were in that intense moment of mindfulness of Allah, that sincere type of worship, that one moment, that is what qualified them to be in the shade of Allah.

Next to the righteous, next to the Nabeeyin, the Prophets, and the righteous, the Shuhada, the martyrs, Sadiqin, the truthful ones, the ones of honesty and integrity. Right there next to all of those people and included amongst those people in the shade of Allah.

Why? Because of the one moment in which that sincerity was there, in one moment in which that worship was sincere. One moment out of all of the salaah’s that you could have done. Maybe you weren’t focused, maybe you weren’t really all there. Maybe you were doing your taxes or your accounting while you were in the salah. But in that one moment, you were sincere. On that one moment, Allah executed all of your previous sins.

Are we going to have that moment in these last ten nights? Are we going to achieve that moment for ourselves?

Not because I say it. Not because your neighbor says it or your family member says it. But are you going to have that moment for yourself in these last days? Whether you were praying next to someone, whether you are praying by yourself, are you going to have that moment? Just you and Allah. Are you able to give yourself to Allah? Are you able to give your heart to Allah?

All it takes is that one sujood. All it takes is that one rakat. One moment of dhikr, of remembrance of Allah.

So I hope and I ask Allah that He gives us a moment. I ask Allah that He helps us to make the most of these last ten nights. I ask Allah that He helps us to achieve His forgiveness in these last nights. I ask Allah that He helps us find Laylatul Qadr and find the blessings of the night of power in these last nights, that we are able to get that reward which Allah promises us, the reward of worshipping 1,000 months, in these last ten nights.

Reminder from the Prophet (pbuh)

I ask Allah that He makes us from those who follow the way of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in these last ten nights.

The Prophet (pbuh) would become very serious. He would wake up his family and he would say, “Come pray, come pray, come worship. Come make the most of these of this last opportunity in this month. They will not return until next year. And that might be the last opportunity you have until next year. And you may not even make it next year. This might be the last Ramadan. This might be the last Laylatul Qadr. Make the most of it.”

We ask Allah that He helps us be like the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Even though he was a Prophet, he still worshipped in this month and he made the most of this month and he made the most of this time.

We ask Allah that He accepts our deeds. I ask Allah that He accepts our fast. I ask Allah that He accepts our rukuh, and our sujood and our Qiyam ul Layl. We ask Allah that He accepts from us our generosity and our charity and our zakat. We ask Allah that He accepts from us our mending of family relations. I ask Allah that He accepts from us, our connecting with others. I ask Allah that He accepts from us, our helping of others, our forgiving others and that He forgives us like we forgive others, that He shows mercy to us as we are able to show mercy to others. I ask Allah that He makes us from those who are under His shade on the day when there is no shade but His. I ask Allah when our time on this earth comes at our last words are لآ اِلَهَ اِ لّا اللّهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُوُل اللّهِ that our last words are our testimony and our declaration of our imaan and our faith. Ameen.

عِبَادَ اللّهِ  إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ  يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ

Servants of Allah. Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.

اُذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ الْعَظِيمَ يَذْكُرْكُمْ واشْكُرُوهُ يَزِدْكُمْ واسْتَغْفِرُوهُ يَغْفِرْ لكُمْ واتّقُوهُ يَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَمْرِكُمْ مَخْرَجًا

 وَأَقِمِ الصّلَاة

Remember Allah, the Great – He will remember you. Thank Him for His favors – He will increase you therein.  And seek forgiveness from Him – He will forgive you. And be conscious of Him – He will provide you a way out of difficult matters.

And, establish the prayer.

What do you think? Share your reflections below!