The Inner Circle Friday Khutbah Alhamdulillah, nahmaduhu wa nasta’eenuhu was nastaghfir Wa nauthu billahi min shururi anfusinaa wa min sayyiaati a’maalina May yahdillahu fa laa mudhilla lah Was may yudhlil fa laa haadiya lah Wa nashhadu allah ilaha illallah wahdahu laa shareeka lah wa nashhadu anna muhammadan abduhu wa rasulullah All praise and thanks is due to Allah. We praise Allah, we seek assistance and forgiveness from Allah. And we seek refuge in Allah from our lower selves and from the wrongs we commit. Whoever Allah guides no one can misguide, and whoever Allah leaves astray, no one can guide. And we bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but God, the One who is unique and has no partners. And we bear witness that Muhammad is Allah’s servant and messenger.

Self-Restraint / Self-Control Is there a need for self-control? Does self-control impact on society?

A Study on the Capacity and Desire for Self-Control Western Criminology Review 7(3), 27–40 (2006) Self-Restraint: A Study on the Capacity and Desire for Self-Control John K. Cochran University of South Florida Valentina Aleksa Mitchell B. Chamlin University of Cincinnati

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ 2:183 O ye who have attained to faith! FASTING is ordained for you as we’ve ordained it for those before you, so that you may learn to restrain (control) yourselves.

Restraint & Allah consciousness Examining the operative word “taqwa” تَّقْوَى Restraint & Allah consciousness اعْدِلُواْ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ إِنَّ اللّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ Be just: that is closer to self-control: and be conscious of Allah. For Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do. Surah Ma’idah 5:8 Not piety If taqwa was piety or Allah-consciousness, it would not make sense to use taqwa twice in this verse.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا تَنَاجَيْتُمْ فَلَا تَتَنَاجَوْا بِالْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ وَمَعْصِيَتِ الرَّسُولِ وَتَنَاجَوْا بِالْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ O you who believe! When you hold secret counsel, do it not for iniquity and hostility, and revolt against the Prophet; but do it for righteousness and self- restraint; and be conscious of Allah, to whom you will be brought back. Surah Al-mujadilah 58:9

Social Responsibility Fasting Personal Sacrifice Self-control Consciousness GAP Workability in Society Social Responsibility

The Importance of Fasting The above verse summarizes the overall benefit of fasting, which is mastery over the carnal desires and the lower self. By denying the body, during fasting, the things otherwise lawful, helps the body and mind to attain a higher level of consciousness and self-control Fasting boosts self-control which in turn leads to a higher consciousness of social responsibility and integrity

The Importance of Fasting أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَاتٍ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُ وَأَن تَصُومُواْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ FAST for a fixed number of days; but if any of you are ill, or on travel, then make it up by days later. For those who cannot there’s the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more, of his own free will,- it is better for him. And it is better that you fast, if only you knew. Surah Baqarah 2:184

The Importance of Fasting شهْرُ 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 In the month of Ramadhan the Quran was sent down, a guidance to humankind, making things clear in guidance and clear evidence. So whoever witness this month should fast, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, then return it by days later. Allah intends ease for you not difficulty and for you to complete the period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perhaps you would grow to become grateful. Surah Baqarah 2:185

The Inner Circle Barakallahu lee wa lakum fil quranil kareem Friday Khutbah Barakallahu lee wa lakum fil quranil kareem Wa nafa’nee wa iyyakum bil aayaati wa dhikril hakeem Innahu jawaadun malikun barrun rabbur ra’oofur raheem May Allah bless me and you through the guidance of this noble Quran And may it teachings and remembrances benefit me and you Truly Allah is the possessor of wealth, the sovereign, the all good, the one who has authority over us, the all-loving and all-merciful.

The Inner Circle Friday Khutbah Sit between Khutbahs

The Importance of Fasting The Arabic word for fasting in the above verses is siyam, which means to leave something or to avoid it for a period.

Criticizing Virtues and Benefits of Fasting Fasting will intercede for a person on the Day of Judgement, and will say, “O Lord! I prevented him from his food and physical desires during the day, so let me intercede for him.” (Reported by Ahmad, 2/174) The smell that comes from the mouth of a fasting person is preferred by Allah than the scent of musk. (Muslim, 2/807) Whoever fasts one day for the sake of Allah, Allah will remove him a distance of seventy years’ from the Hell-fire. (Muslim, 2/808)

Criticizing Virtues and Benefits of Fasting Whoever fasts one day, seeking the pleasure of Allah, if that is the last day of his life, he will enter Paradise. (Reported by Ahmad, 5/391) Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said, “Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and with the hope of reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven.” (Al-Bukhari, Fath, no. 37) In Paradise there is a gate called al-Rayyaan, through which those who fast will enter, and no one will enter it except them; when they have entered, it will be locked, and no-one else will enter through it. (Al-Bukhari, Fath, no. 1797)

The Inner Circle Friday Khutbah Allahummansur man nasra deena Muhammad; Allahummansuril mujahideena fee qulli makaan; Allahumma Yassir wa laa tu’assir Allahumma tammim bil ghayr wa antal kareemu muyassir O Allah, assist those who assist the cause of Muhammad O Allah, assist all those who strive towards good in every place O Allah, make things easy for us and remove difficulty O Allah, complete us in Goodness, Truly You are the most noble of all those who provides assistance. Innallaha wa malaa’ikatahu yusolloona alan nabi… yaa ayyuhallatheena aamanu sollu alayhi wa sallimoo tasleema. Wa aakhiri da’waanaa anil hamdu lillahi rabbil aalameen Truly Allah and the Angels sends blessings and salutations on the Prophet Muhammad, O you who believe, send greetings and salutations upon him. And the final word is that all praise and thanks is due to Allah, the Authority over all creation. اتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاء وَالْمُنكَرِ وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ 29:45 Recite what is sent of the Book by inspiration to thee, and establish regular Prayer: for Prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt. And Allah knows the (deeds) that ye do. Let us stand for prayer!