In the Name of Allāh, the most gracious and merciful. All praise belongs to Allāh. May the peace and blessings of Allāh be upon His final messenger, Muḥammad (sall Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam), his family, and his companions.
Suggested Points for the Eid Khutbah
Thanking Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā)
The purpose of Eid is to celebrate by thanking Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) for allowing us to worship Him and to observe this great opportunity of fasting in the month of Ramaḍān.
Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) says in the Qur’an:
شَہۡرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانُ هُدً۬ى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـٰتٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡهُدَىٰ وَٱلۡفُرۡقَانِۚ فَمَن شَہِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّہۡرَ فَلۡيَصُمۡهُۖ وَمَن ڪَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوۡ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ۬ فَعِدَّةٌ۬ مِّنۡ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِڪُمُ ٱلۡيُسۡرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِڪُمُ ٱلۡعُسۡرَ وَلِتُڪۡمِلُواْ ٱلۡعِدَّةَ وَلِتُڪَبِّرُواْ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَٮٰكُمۡ وَلَعَلَّڪُمۡ تَشۡكُرُونَ
“The month of Ramaḍān in which was revealed the Qur’ān, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion [between right and wrong]. So, whoever of you sights [the crescent on the first night of] the month [of Ramaḍān], he must observe fasting that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe fasting must be made up] from other days. Allāh intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. [He wants that you] must complete the same number [of days], and that you must magnify Allāh [i.e. to say takbīr] for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him.” [1]
This blessed month of Ramaḍān has granted us with so many blessings, and it will grant us the greatest thing in the hereafter – Jannah, in shā’ Allāh. This is because the month of Ramaḍān has brought us back to Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā).
In this month, Muslims from different backgrounds all over the world have become closer to Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā). More people fasted; more people observed night prayers; more people went to perform ʿumrah; and more people gave sadaqah. Even on a small scale, we shared ifṭār in the mosques with one another, and gave salām to one another. As a result, we, as Muslims, have become more united and more visible, everywhere in the world.
These actions – these forms of ʿibādah – that we did during the month of Ramaḍān have countless blessings, on a political level, social level, financial level, and especially on a spiritual level. One blessing, we can see now:
Despite the many challenges that our ummah is facing, we see that Islām is flourishing and progressing everywhere in the world. The difficulties that we witness our Muslim brothers and sisters facing in countries such as Syria, Palestine, and Yemen, will make us stronger as an ummah, and it will prepare us for the true leadership of the world – Islām.
That is why, despite the many challenges we face, we must thank Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) all the time. For, to quote the words of Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā), if we give thanks to Him, He (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) will give us more of His blessings; if we are thankless, then His punishment is indeed severe. [2]
Islām as a Role Model
For us to become better Muslims, in shā’ Allāh, we need to love Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā). We need to glorify Him at all times and establish His Oneness in every aspect of our lives. We need to demonstrate our love for the Qur’ān the same way in which we did in the month of Ramaḍān – to continue reading it, studying its meanings, putting it into practice, and calling people to it. By practising the dīn in every aspect of our lives, we can be proud of this great way of life.
Prophet Muḥammad (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said Islām is built on five pillars: the shahādah (testifying that there is no God but Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) and testifying that Muḥammad (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) is His final messenger); establishing ṣalāh; giving zakāh; fasting in the month of Ramaḍān; and performing Ḥajj.
Each of the pillars allows us to become better individuals. The Prophet Muḥammad (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) says that he was sent to perfect the manners of people.
The first pillar allows us to endorse Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) as the Supreme Being and the only One to be worshipped, and to acknowledge that Prophet Muḥammad (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) is His final messenger to the entirety of mankind.
The second pillar of ṣalāh allows us to establish a continuous obedience, glorification, and a link with Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā). As for zakāt, which is charity that must be paid to others, it reflects the social and financial responsibility that we, as Muslims, have to our brothers and sisters in society.
Furthermore, fasting is where abstain from the most basic biological desires, such as eating, drinking, and sexual reproduction. In doing so, it becomes a means of controlling oneself and gives us the chance to improve our characters.
Finally, the fifth pillar is a physical and spiritual journey that connects the person to Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) through a collective submission. It is a symbol of the unity of Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) and the unity of those who worship Him.
My dear brothers and sisters, each of these pillars will help us perfect our manners and make us better individuals, just as Islām commands of us. As a result, this will make us become role models in society.
Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) says:
كُنتُمۡ خَيۡرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخۡرِجَتۡ لِلنَّاسِ تَأۡمُرُونَ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِ وَتَنۡهَوۡنَ عَنِ ٱلۡمُنڪَرِ وَتُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِۗ
You are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin al-Maʿrūf [i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islām has ordained] and forbid al-Munkar [polytheism, disbelief, and all that Islām has forbidden], and you believe in Allāh. [3]
Establishing the oneness of Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) brings light to the life of humanity.
يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلنَّاسُ قَدۡ جَآءَكُم بُرۡهَـٰنٌ۬ مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ وَأَنزَلۡنَآ إِلَيۡكُمۡ نُورً۬ا مُّبِينً۬ا
“O mankind! Verily, there has come to you a convincing proof from your Lord, and We sent down to you a manifest light.” [4]
Islām brings ease, tranquillity, and prosperity to our lives.
يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِڪُمُ ٱلۡيُسۡرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِڪُمُ ٱلۡعُسۡرَ… …
“…Allāh intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you…” 2
We, as British Muslims, need to show this to society. We need to set ourselves as role models in all aspects to the society at large. The way to do that, in shā’ Allāh, is to learn Islām more, practice Islām more, incorporate it into every aspect of our lives, and be more active in calling people to Islām.
Spread Daʿwah by being ‘Ramaḍān Muslims’ all year long
Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) says:
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُواْ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَقَـٰمُواْ تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕڪَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُواْ وَلَا تَحۡزَنُواْ وَأَبۡشِرُواْ بِٱلۡجَنَّةِ ٱلَّتِى كُنتُمۡ تُوعَدُونَ
“Verily, those who say: ‘Our Lord is Allāh [Alone],’ and then they stand firm, on them the angels will descend [at the time of their death] [saying]: ‘Fear not, nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised!’” [5]
Whichever way we observed the month of Ramaḍān, we need to continue doing it. All year round, we should continue to demonstrate our love for Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) and our desire to attain Jannah, by continuing to run away from the anger and punishment of Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā).
This includes continuing to perform ʿibādah, such as observing our five daily prayers and our night prayers – even the three rakaʿāt of witr – and to continue giving sadaqah and charity. However, this also includes our mannerisms, as mentioned before. We need to continue to show care for each other, show more unity as an ummah, and we need to continue to observe good manners, such as avoiding cheating, lying, and demonstrating rudeness and injustice.
In order to share the message and mannerisms of Islām, we need to be more engaged with society. The only way for this country to become a better and friendlier place to us, as Muslims, is to be engaged at all levels.
For instance, we need to remember that we have a duty towards our children and that we need to protect them and their education. We need to engage with our local politicians and headteachers to make sure our local educational policies, in terms of SRE, for example, do not force other people’s beliefs and values on Muslim children.
Furthermore, the Prophet Muḥammad (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said that whoever fasts Ramaḍān and follows it by fasting six days of Shawwāl, it is as if he has fasted the entire year.
Finally, brothers and sisters, remember that performing Ḥajj is the fifth pillar of Islām and hence, make sure that you do aim to go for Ḥajj if you have not done so already.
…وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ حِجُّ ٱلۡبَيۡتِ مَنِ ٱسۡتَطَاعَ إِلَيۡهِ سَبِيلاً۬ۚ…
“…And Ḥajj to the House (Kaʿbah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allāh, those who can afford the expenses [for one’s conveyance, provision and residence]…” [6]
Do not let your chance to be a better individual end as the month of Ramaḍān ends.
We ask Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) to grant us more tawfīq and success. We ask Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) to accept our fasts and to forgive our sins. Āmīn.
[donationbanner]
Source: www.islam21c.com
Notes:
[1] Al-Qur’ān 2:185
[2] Al-Qur’ān 14:7
[3] Al-Qur’ān 3:110
[4] Al-Qur’ān 4:174
[5] Al-Qur’ān 41:30
[6] Al-Qur’ān 3:97
