Sha’ban 18, 1447 (February 6, 2026)
Assalaamun Alaykum Warahmatullah Taallah Wabarakatuhu
(Part I)
As Ramadan Knocks at Our Doors, Announcing its Arrival this Year
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. We praise Him, we seek His help and His forgiveness, and we seek refuge in Allah from the evil of our souls and the consequences of our deeds. Whomsoever Allah guides, none can misguide, and whomsoever He allows to stray, none can guide. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is His servant and Messenger.
Dear brothers and sisters in Islam,
As the blessed month of Ramadan approaches, Allah grants us yet another opportunity to renew our faith, purify our hearts, and reform our conduct. Ramadan is not merely a change in our eating habits; it is a divine school of discipline, patience, self-control, and compassion. Therefore, sincere preparation is essential if we are to benefit fully from its blessings.
Preparation for Ramadan begins with spiritual readiness. We must first examine our relationship with Allah and seek sincere repentance (tawbah) for our sins. Allah says: “O you who believe, turn to Allah in sincere repentance” (Qur’an 66:8). Let us cleanse our hearts of hatred, envy, and malice, and forgive those who have wronged us. In a country like Nigeria, where ethnic, religious, and political tensions often strain relationships, Ramadan calls us to be agents of peace, mercy, and unity.
Secondly, we must prepare through knowledge and intention. Understanding the rules of fasting, prayer, charity, and good conduct in Ramadan enables us to worship Allah correctly. Let us renew our intention that our fasting is purely for the sake of Allah, not for cultural display or social pressure. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Actions are judged by intentions.” Families should use this period to teach children the meaning of Ramadan, instilling in them values of honesty, kindness, and devotion.
Thirdly, moral and social preparation is vital. Ramadan demands restraint of the tongue and limbs. In Nigeria today, where social media, marketplaces, and even places of worship can become arenas of insults, falsehood, and division, Ramadan teaches us to speak only what is good or remain silent. We must prepare to avoid corruption, cheating, hoarding, and exploitation, especially during this month when prices of food often rise unjustly. True fasting is not compatible with oppression or injustice.
Furthermore, economic and charitable preparation is part of readiness for Ramadan. We should plan to give sadaqah generously, support the poor, the internally displaced, and the needy among us.
In the face of rising hardship and insecurity in many parts of Nigeria, Ramadan reminds us that faith is incomplete without compassion. Feeding the fasting person, supporting widows and orphans, and sharing what little we have are among the greatest acts of worship.
Finally, we have to prepare our time and lifestyle for Ramadan. We should gradually adjust our routines, increase recitation of the Qur’an, observe voluntary fasts, and strengthen our prayers. Let us make our homes centers of remembrance of Allah, not places of distraction and waste.
Dear believers, Ramadan is a guest that comes once a year. Many who witnessed the last Ramadan are no longer with us today. Therefore, we should prepare as though this may be our last opportunity. May Allah allow us to reach Ramadan, accept our fasting and prayers, and make it a means of reform for our nation and our souls.
Ameen.
(Part II)
True Faith in God-Consciousness, Repentance, and Noble Character
All praise is due to Allah. We praise Him, we seek His help and His forgiveness, and we seek refuge in Allah from the evil within ourselves and from the consequences of our deeds. Whomsoever Allah guides, none can misguide; and whomsoever He allows to stray, none can guide.
I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad ﷺ is His servant and Messenger. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, his family, his companions, and all who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment.
Dear brothers and sisters in faith,
The Prophet ﷺ summarized the essence of true religion in a short but profound saying: “Fear Allah wherever you are. Follow a bad deed with a good one and it will erase it. And treat people with good character.” This hadith is a complete roadmap for a faithful life, built on three pillars: God-consciousness, repentance through good deeds, and noble character.
First, the Prophet ﷺ said: “Fear Allah wherever you are.” This is taqwā—to be conscious of Allah at all times. Taqwā is not limited to the mosque, to Friday prayers, or to public acts of worship. It is awareness of Allah in private and in public, in strength and in weakness, in success and in hardship. A believer who possesses taqwā remembers that Allah sees what eyes cannot see and knows what hearts conceal. This awareness restrains us from sin, motivates us toward obedience, and gives meaning to our daily choices. True faith begins in the heart, but it shows itself in consistent God-conscious living.
Second, the Prophet ﷺ said: “Follow a bad deed with a good one and it will erase it.” Islam is a religion of hope, not despair. Human beings are not angels; we fall, we err, and we sin. But the door of repentance remains open as long as life remains. Allah, in His mercy, has given us a way to cleanse our mistakes: sincere repentance followed by righteous action. Prayer after negligence, charity after wrongdoing, kindness after harshness—these good deeds wipe away sins and purify the soul. This teaching trains the believer to rise quickly after falling and never to be imprisoned by guilt or hopelessness.
Third, the Prophet ﷺ concluded: “Treat people with good character.” Noble character is the visible proof of true faith. Worship without good manners is incomplete. The Prophet ﷺ was sent to perfect good character, and he taught us that kindness, honesty, patience, humility, and mercy are acts of worship. Good character must be shown to family and strangers, to those who agree with us and those who oppose us. A believer’s smile, fairness, and compassion are forms of da‘wah more powerful than many words.
Dear servants of Allah, this hadith teaches us that true faith is not a slogan but a way of life. It lives in the heart as taqwā, it heals itself through repentance and good deeds, and it shines outward through noble character. Let us renew our consciousness of Allah, hasten to good after every mistake, and commit ourselves to treating people with excellence.
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Let’s pray:
O Allah, grant us true taqwā, accept our repentance, and beautify our character. Make us among those whose faith benefits themselves and humanity. Ameen.
Oh Allah, we ask You with all of Your power and might, to free the thousands being tortured in zionist prisons, to heal the wounded and injured, to remove the entire zionist occupation, and to liberate Filisteen and Masjid Al-Aqsa.
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Endeavour to recite Surah Al-Kahf (Chapter 18: Verses 1-110).
Juma’ah Mabrouq
