Farewell to Ramadan

From The Farewell Khutba for the Last Friday of Ramadhaan,

By Muslimah

The Month of Ramadhaan is coming to an end; where are the eyes that will weep and where are the hearts that will humble themselves by the fear of Almighty Allah, the Bounteous King? You have heard this so many times from the Holy Qur’an: “All the creatures will certainly die.” Now the time of the departure of the month of Ramadhaan is very near and with you it will stay just like a night-guest, or like a departing beloved. Never forget that the separation of good friends is a very bitter thing; so where are those who will perform as many good deeds as they did this month? Undoubtedly those who have fasted have collected great benefits and the transgressors are the losers.

Bid farewell to this month with sighs, cries and constant weeping when you say: “Salaam to you, O month of Revelation: Salaam to you O Month of Forgiveness (of Allah) and release from Jahannam! Salaam to you O Month of the Illumination of Hearts! Salaam to you, O Month of compensation of past sins! Salaam to you, O Sacred month, wherein lies a night which is better than a thousand months!

Salaam, Salaam, O Month of Ramadhaan! Salaam to you, O Month of Ramadhaan! Salaam to you, O Sacred month, whose nights are blessed by Almighty Allah, and are a means of erasing one’s past sins! Salaam to you, O Month of Virtue and Blessings of Almighty Allah: Salaam to you, O Month of Charity and of fasting! Salaam to you, O Month of Ibadah, Taraweeh and remembrance of Allah! Salaam to you, O Month of Takbeer and glorification of Allah!

Salaam to you, O Honourable Visitor, whom we have welcomed (enthusiastically). O Traveller, we bid you and honourable farewell. Salaam, Salaam, O Month of Ramadhaan! Blessed are you O Month of Ramadhaan. O Month of Ramadhaan! We do not know whether you will be a witness for us or against us (on the Day of Judgment). This is your last interview with us; we do not know whether you will return to us (in our lifetime) or whether death will overpower us. O Month of Ramadhaan! How fortunate is the person, to whom you will return with blessings of Almighty Allah, and how unfortunate is the one against whose misdeeds you will be a witness on the Day of Judgment!

May Almighty Allah bless our Masjids with your presence for a long time, and May He light our lamps with your divine light. The performance of Taraweeh is coming to an end, and our lamps are going to be put off (by your departure). No one will wait for Iftaar, and no one will see the stars for his or her Suhoor. For a time our bellies were under your command and our eyes were kept awake in constant Ibadah. Undoubtedly, we are for Almighty Allah, and to Him we will all return! Oh! How sad will be your departure and separation from us. The day of your departure will be sorrowful for all of us.

May Almighty Allah take mercy on the person who bid farewell to Ramadhaan with repentance and devotion. All of you should say: “O Almighty Allah! Let us be among those who have attained salvation during the Holy month of Ramadhaan. Deliver us from the fire of Jahannam, by the honour of Ramadan. Pardon us with Your Mercy, O Most Merciful of those who show Mercy. And all praise is due to Almighty Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. I seek refuge in Almighty Allah, from Shaytaan the rejected one. (Says Almighty Allah in the Holy Qur’an)! “The pious will reside in an abode of Peace, in Jannah (with) fountains; they will be dressed in brocade and silk, as they sit before each other.

If you are afraid that your hearts will wander off as they did before Ramadan, keep paying thus:
"Allahumma Rabbana la thuzigh quloobana ba'ada idh hadaytana va hab lana milladunka rahmah innaka antal Wahhab"

("Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate (from the truth) after You have guided us, and grant us mercy from You. Truly, You are the Bestower.")

May Allah the Almighty guide us to the Righteous path.