1. Fasting strengthen oneself 25 شعبان 1431هـ 6 August, 2010

2. شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيَ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُواْ الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُواْ اللّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ 2:185 It was the month of Ramadan in which the Qur'an was [first] bestowed from on high as a guidance unto man and a self-evident proof of that guidance, and as the standard by which to discern the true from the false. Hence, whoever of you lives to see this month shall fast throughout it; but he that is ill, or on a journey, [shall fast instead for the same] number of other days. God wills that you shall have ease, and does not will you to suffer hardship; but [He desires] that you complete the number [of days required], and that you extol God for His having guided you aright, and that you render your thanks [unto Him].

3. Ramadhan is the greatest and most blessed compared to other months. Al-Quran, whichdescendedin ramadhan, is a guidance for man from the darkness of kufr and dullard to knowledgeable.

4. Fasting obliges man to refrain himself from sexual activities during the days of ramadhan, physically and mentally. Historically, the opening of Makkah (فَتْحُ مَكَّةَ) happened in the month of Ramadhan. Ramadhan comes to us and disappears every year. Most of the Muslims keep going on fasting.

5. Sadly, the occurrence of social problems is increasing. This includesadultery, baby dumping, crimes and others. This is the fact of Prophet’s hadithwhich means : “How many of them are fasting but got nothing from his fasting except hunger and thirst”

6. Fasting without reflecting is meaningless. Verily, the main objective of fasting is not only to preserve physically but spiritually too. Imam al-Ghazalimentioned: We must protect the eyes from watching bad and hatred deeds in Islam and the matters pertaining heart difficulties to remember Allah.

7. We must avoid from negative and meaningless speech, slandering, deriding and others. We must protect the ears from listening to the forbidden and hatred matters pertaining to Islam. We must refrain ourselves from committing sins, hatred deeds and prevent ourselves from eating non-halal and doubtful food.

8. Although the foods that we eat is halal, we must not take them excessively during break-fasting because it make us hard to perform ibadah. We must always question our fast whether it is accepted by Allah or not.

9. The consequences of fasting is to strengthen brotherhood in Islam. Wherever we go, we will realize that the celebration of Ramadhan is enjoyed by Muslims around the world. We must also aware the challenges and tribulations faced by all Muslims around the world. The awareness must be planted in Muslims’ heart although they come from different school of thought.

10. Let’s increase the quality of fasting this year. Hopefully, the fasting experience will develop the strength among us.

11. End of khutbah