[0:00]My dear brothers and sisters, may Allah be pleased with you, and may Allah protect all of you, may Allah accept your fasting, may Allah accept your prayer. Alhamdulillah that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala allowed all of us to reach the month of Ramadan, and Alhamdulillah that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala send his mercy, forgiveness and he put believers in a freedom from the hellfire. Ramadan is opportunity for us, 11 months in the year, we have a careless 11 months in the year, we do not work hard, 11 months in the year we do not pray as Allah Azza wa jalla wants us to pray, 11 months in the year we do not sit and read the Quran as Allah Azza wa jalla wants. For that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala wants us to give us extra good deed, he wants to shower his mercy on all of us, he gifted us this mubarak month. So, nas'al Allah ta'ala at-tawfiq was-sadad.Ramadan, today's the first day of Ramadan. And inshallah in this mubarak month, I will focus on studying the Quran, at-tafseer, tadarusul Quran inshallah. Because as-sahabah radi Allah ta'ala anhu used to read the Quran more and more in the month of Ramadan, and also a'imat as-salaf radi Allah ta'ala anhum ajma'in, they used to leave the whole knowledge, and they focus on the Quran, in the matter of tafseer, in the matter of the meaning, in the matter of ma'idah in the matter of remembering the Quran. And also the Quran has been revealed from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala in the month of Ramadan, so the best book to read, the best book to study, is the Quran. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said, bismillah ar-rahman ar-rahim, ya ayyuhallazina amanu kutiba alaikum as-siyam kama kutiba alallazina min qablikum la'allakum tattaqun.And before that inshallah, every day inshallah we will give only 10 minutes tafseer, then after that we have to focus on studying and reading the Quran by ourselves. And some of you, they have jobs, they need to leave, so only 10 minutes inshallah, except in the weekends, inshallah we may pass for more time inshallah. So today inshallah we'll give at-tafseer of ayat as-siyam. In surat al-Baqarah Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said, bismillah ar-rahman ar-rahim, ya ayyuhallazina amanu kutiba alaikum as-siyam. Oh you who believe, fasting has been made fard on all of you. Kutiba means has been written as a fard, not sunnah, that you have to fast.Kutiba alaikum as-siyam kama kutiba alallazina min qablikum la'allakum tattaqun. As the siyam has been written on the nations before you, so here we have to learn one thing, that as-siyam was not just for Muslims. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala made as-siyam fard on all the nations before us, not just for Muslims. Even the nations before us, Jews and Christians, and those the followers of Prophet Ibrahim alayhi as-salam and Nuh, they used to fast the month of Ramadan. Actually, not just Ramadan, the five pillars of the Islam. So please write the information, because sometimes I will ask you information from the tafseer to learn that. Five pillars of Islam that we know, it was ordained by Allah and it was wajib in all the nations before us. What is the proof? Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said, "Wa ma arsalna min rasulin illa nuhi ilayhi annahu la ilaha illa ana fa'abudun." We've never sent any messenger except to tell him say to your people that there is no God except Allah, so worship him alone with no partner. Ashhadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah, that's us. And when we say Ashhadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah, we say Ashhadu anna Isa rasulullah, Ashhadu anna Musa rasulullah, Ashhadu anna Ibrahim rasulullah, and so on and so on. Every prophet or every nations will say Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah wa Ashhadu anna Musa rasulullah, Jews. Christian, Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah wa Ashhadu anna Isa rasulullah, and so on and so on. Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah wa Ashhadu anna Ibrahim rasulullah. Okay, what about the salah? Is there any proof that the salah was fard on the nations before us? Of course, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said about Prophet Ismail alayhi as-salam, bismillah ar-rahman ar-rahim, wa dhkur fil-kitabi Ismail innahu kana sadiqal wa'di wa kana rasulan nabiyya wa kana ya'muru ahlahu bis-salati waz-zakati.
[5:14]So as-salah and az-zakah was fard on Prophet Ismail and all the Prophets of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. And in the other proof and the other ayah, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said, wa dhkur fil-kitabi Ismail innahu kana, wa awsani about Isa bin Maryam alayhi as-salam. Isa bin Maryam said, "Wa awsani bis-salati waz-zakati ma dumtu hayya." He commanded me and advised me to pray, to make as-salah, and also to give as-zakah as much as I'm in life, so as-salah and az-zakah is fard. Okay, what about al-hajj? Is there a proof that al-hajj was written on the people before us? Of course, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said about Prophet Ibrahim alayhi as-salam and he is the father of al-anbiya. What Allah told him? Wa adhdhin fin-nasi bil-hajji ya'tuka rijala. Adhdhin fin-nasi bil-hajj, so al-hajj is not just was for Muslims, even the nations before al-Islam, they used to perform al-hajj. Allah said, "Wa adhdhin fin-nasi bil-hajj." Call, adhdhin means call people to come for al-hajj, to go to Bayt Allah al-haram. Ya'tuka rijala, they will walk and they will come to Bayt Allah al-haram, so the five pillars of Islam, it was fard on all the nations before us, that Allah Azza wa jalla send them prophets and messengers. Allah said, "Ya ayyuhallazina amanu kutiba alaikum as-siyam." Has been, as-siyam has been written on you as the siyam has been written in the people before you as a fard. However, practicing as-siyam is different, we fast and our fasting in a different way, how Jews and Christians used to fast and the nations before us. La'allakum tattaqun, here is the wisdom, why we fast. Why Allah made it fard to reach at-taqwa. To reach at-taqwa, what's at-taqwa? At-taqwa has a three major points, or three major fundamentals. At-taqwa hiya al-khawfu minal jaleel, the definition of at-taqwa, he to fear Allah. Wal 'amalu bit-tanzil, and to work under the instructions that came from Allah. Wal isti'dadu li yawmil rahil, and to prepare yourself for the Day of Judgment. So, at-taqwa, the definition of at-taqwa is hiya al-khawfu min Allah, to fear Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, khawfu min al-jaleel, wal 'amalu bit-tanzil, and to work under the instructions that came from Allah.
[8:04]Allah told you do this, do it. Allah said, do not do this, do not do it. This is a sign that you have at-taqwa. Wal isti'dadu li yawmil rahil, and to prepare yourself for the Day of Judgment, the day that everybody will leave. This is the person who say, I do have at-taqwa. So to reach at-taqwa, you have to fast, without fasting you will not reach at-taqwa. That's why Allah said, la'allakum lam at-ta'leel, you have to fast. And when you fast, you will reach at-taqwa. La'allakum tattaqun, ayyaman ma'dudat, Allah said. Few days, this is the meaning that you can count them. The first night of Ramadan, gone, gone. First night, gone. It will not come until the Day of Judgment. The winner of last night, including al-fajr of the first day, the one who prepared himself and he worked hard and he worshipped Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Ayyaman ma'dudat, Allah tells us that Ramadan is days, Ramadan time, Ramadan is not place. You may always see me and hear me saying this, time, not a place, place easy to come to visit at any time. But time, Allah did not give us the authority to control the time. Can you control the day today, to keep the day up? No, the day will go fast. Same thing, we are not controlling the time, that means it's not in our hand, it will move so fast. Ayyaman ma'dudat, Allah said, you can count them. Famayyaman ma'dudat faman kana minkum maridan aw ala safarin fa'iddatun min ayyamin ukhar. He said, whoever of you is sick, facing sickness, any type of sickness, any time? Yes, any type of sickness will cause risk to your life. Will make you tired, what type? You have to break your fast. When the fasting become optional? When you have a light sickness, that your life is not at risk and you will not damage your body, then it's okay, it become optional. And here I have to explain one point. Some of my brothers, the doctor, Muslim doctor, tells them, do not fast. If you fast, you will cause big issue to your body, and they say, no, I want to fast. These people are wrong, why? Because Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said, "Ma ja'ala alaikum fid-dini min haraj." Allah did not make you tired in your religion, and he doesn't want you to be tired, he doesn't want you to have difficulties. And Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said, "La yukallifullahu nafsan illa wus'aha." Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala will not burn you, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala will not put you in difficulty, no, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala wants you to worship him in a easy way. So you have to be make it easy and you have to take it easy for yourself, and the person who is sick, Allah Azza wa jalla will write al-ajr for him two times. First one, by the niya of that he has a niya that he wants to fast, and the second that he is sick, so he will get two ajr. Faman kana minkum maridan aw ala safar, or he or who is whoever in travel. As-safar here, if a person wants to travel, when he has to start breaking his fast? Of course not from the house. Today I'm going to travel. I should not break my fast while I'm in the house. Where? I have to break my fast while I am in my way and I left my city. So if I am the airport, for the airlines or the airplane take off, I can break my fasting. But do not break your fast while you are in home. Sometimes some of my brothers and sisters, they because they know they are travelling, they break their fast from home, this is wrong. Break your fast on the way, when you leave and this is what Prophet Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam as-sahabah radi Allah ta'ala anhum has done that. So faman kana minkum maridan aw ala safarin Allah said, "Fa iddatun min ayyamin ukhar." Then Allah said, "Wa 'alallazina yutiqunahu fidyatun ta'amu miskin." And those who is finding difficulty of sickness, travel, or also seniors who cannot fast, Allah said, or women as a pregnant women, then after that she has to give breast feeding, so all these people they cannot fast even after Ramadan. Allah said, even after Ramadan they cannot fast, fidyatun ta'amu miskin. Fidya, to cover your fasting for each day, one miskin. What do I feed the miskin? To give him the expenses, if one meal completely or to prepare the meal for him, so to make it complete. Some of my Muslim brothers what they do, they give rice only. Brother, do you eat rice alone? You eat rice with some chicken, you eat rice with some meat, and you need spice with that, so full meal. So you have to prepare that and you have to make it ready for him. So to make it, if you have a neighbor who's miskin, prepare the food for them. If not, then how much? Let's say, $20 now per person if you want to have a meal, or $25. Some of my brothers are rich people, I'm not talking about the one who's regularly, if he goes to a restaurant, he eats from, some of my brothers they eat from pita land, these these places, but some of my brothers maybe never been in pita land. They go to nice and fancy restaurants, because they have a high income, so brother, of what you eat, prepare the food and make it for the people. If you eat with $40, make that meal for that miskin, for each day, $40. But if you always or in the most of the time you eat from, a simple food and you're just meal, it's $15, $10, I don't think there's a $10 now. At least $15, $20, so buy $15, $20. I want to give it back home. Count the money of the place where you are, do not count it in back home. Maybe in back home with $30 you will feed them in one month. No, count, don't be stingy and cheap in this. Count where you eat the food and give them, and Allah Azza wa jalla will reward you. Fidyatun ta'amu miskin, faman tatawwa'a khairan fahuwa khairun lah, wa an tasumu khairun lakum in kuntum ta'lamun. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said, "Faman tatawwa'a." And he wants to fast, and Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, and he has the ability, even even though he or she is tired, it's better for him. Wa an tasumu khairun lakum. And this advice to every single one who wants to fast the month of Ramadan. Allah said, "Wa an tasumu khairun lakum in kuntum ta'lamun." And if you fast, this is better for you. Better for your body to have a healthy body, better for your heart, the benefit of as-sawm, the the benefit of as-sawm better for your body to have a healthy, to lose weight, to clean the system, to train yourself, and also better for your heart to achieve at-taqwa, and to clean your heart from the dirt of bad deeds. So, wa an tasumu khairun lakum in kuntum ta'lamun, if you know, Allah said, fasting is the best for you. Inshallah tomorrow, I will continue, "Shahru Ramadanalladhi unzila fihil Quran." Inshallah another 10 minutes and I will explain to you an-nasikh wal-mansukh, important lecture tomorrow in 10 minutes inshallah. May Allah be pleased with you, may Allah accept from you, may Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala make you successful, and may Allah reward all of you. Please keep reading the Quran as much as you can, keep reading the Quran as much as you can, day and night, read the Quran. You do not need to open al-Mushaf, read while you are driving, keep reading al-Fatiha, an-Nas, al-Falaq, al-Ikhlas as much as you can, and Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala will reward you. Allah Azza wa jalla loves in these days to hear al-Quran from you, so make your mouth busy of al-Quran, your company, or your companion is the book of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Allahumma aghfir lana warhamna, wa 'afina wa'fu 'anna, Allahumma adkhilna al-Jannah, Allahumma 'afina min an-nar, Allahumma aftah lana shahru Ramadan biridwanika, wa ajirna fihi min 'uqubatika wa niranik, wa ij'al lana fihi awfarul hazz wan-nasib, wataqabbalhu minna wa minal Muslimin, Allahumma ij'alhu shahru khairin wa barakatin lana wa lil Muslimin, Ya Rabbal 'alamin. Allahumma Ya Arham ar-Rahimin, Ya Rabbal 'alamin, aghfir lana wa li ikhwaninallazina sabaquna bil-iman, wala taj'al fi qulubina ghillan lillazina amanu, Rabbana innaka ra'ufun rahim. Allahumma ya Hayyu ya Qayyum ya Dhal Jalali wal Ikram, nas'aluka ya Mawlana an taktubna min 'utaqa'ika min an-nar, Allahumma aktubna min 'utaqa'ika min an-nar, waktubna min ahlil Jannah Ya Rabbal 'alamin. Allahumma aghfir dhunubana ya Rabbana, Allahumma aghfir dhunubana wastur 'uyubana warham dha'fana wajbur kasrana, Allahumma ishfi mardana wa mardal Muslimin, warham mawtana wa mawtal Muslimin, birahmatika ya Arham ar-Rahimin, Ya Rabbal 'alamin. Allahumma salli 'ala Nabiyyina Muhammad, wa 'ala alihi wa sahbihi ajma'in, wa akhiru da'wana anilhamdulillahi Rabbil 'alamin.
