Imam of the Grand Mosque: The month of Ramadan is a witness for or against the servant
In his Friday sermon delivered today at the Grand Mosque, he explained that what remains of Ramadan is a wide field for increasing acts of obedience and multiplying good deeds, calling on Muslims not to be lazy in seizing opportunities for closeness to God, and to hasten to do good deeds before it is too late, pointing out that one of the greatest losses is for a person to experience this holy month and then miss out on the reward of forgiveness.
Sheikh Faisal Ghazawi emphasized that God’s grace is vast, and a servant may receive a great reward for a simple deed if his intention is sincere and his action is done purely for him. He added that the lesson in a Muslim’s life is in a good ending, and whoever repents and reforms at the end of his life, God will forgive him for his past shortcomings.
Striving against one's own desires
He called upon Muslims to strive against their own desires, to avoid sins and transgressions, and to invest the remainder of their lives in obedience and good deeds. He reminded them that time passes quickly and that death can come suddenly, which necessitates that every person prepare to meet their Lord through righteous deeds and sincere repentance.
He pointed out that the door of repentance is open as long as one lives, urging all who have fallen short or transgressed against themselves with sins to hasten to repent and turn to God, and to work on rectifying their past actions. He emphasized that whatever good deeds one performs today will be stored up for them on the Day of Judgment.
He further noted that the month of Ramadan bears witness for or against the servant; it testifies to the good deeds of the righteous and to the shortcomings of the negligent. He explained that the truly fortunate are those who are granted the ability to complete their deeds with sincerity, to take account of their actions, and to seek forgiveness at the end of the month.
He clarified that one of the signs of an accepted deed is its sincerity to God coupled with the servant's fear of its rejection, following the example of the righteous predecessors who strove in obedience and feared falling short afterward.
The Imam and preacher of the Grand Mosque pointed out that Ramadan passes quickly, and that human lives also pass towards their appointed times, which necessitates maintaining the covenant with God by preserving obedience and righteousness after the month has ended. He emphasized that the completion of worship at the end of Ramadan is giving Zakat al-Fitr, as it purifies the fasting person and comforts the needy. He added that the day of Eid is a day of joy that is legitimate with obedience and gratitude, not with heedlessness and disobedience. He noted that among the Sunnahs associated with the day of Eid are Takbir, bathing, wearing the best clothes, and breaking the fast before the Eid prayer, in addition to the desirability of fasting six days of the month of Shawwal because of its great virtue.
