The Sermon of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) on the Last Friday of Sha’ban

May 26, 2017

“O People! Indeed, ahead of you is the blessed month of God. A month of blessing, mercy and forgiveness. A month, which is the best of months, with God. Its days; the best of days, its nights; the best of nights, and its hours; the best of hours. It is the month, which invites you to be the guests of God and invites you to be one of those near to Him. Each breath you take glorifies Him; your sleep is worship, your deeds are accepted and your supplications are answered.

“So, ask God, your Lord; to give you a sound body and an enlightened heart so you may be able to fast and recite his book, for only he is unhappy who is devoid of God’s forgiveness during this great month. Remember the hunger and thirst of the day of Judgement (Qiyamah) with your hunger and thirst; give alms to the needy and poor, honor your old, show kindness to the young ones, maintain relations with your blood relations; guard your tongues, close your eyes to that which is not permissible for your sight, close your ears to that which is forbidden to hear, show compassion to the orphans of people so compassion may be shown to your orphans.

“Repent to God for your sins and raise your hands in prayer during these times, for they are the best of times and God looks toward his creatures with kindness, replying to them during the hours and granting their needs if he is asked.

“O People! Indeed your souls are dependent on your deeds, free it with repentance (istighfar), lighten its loads with long prostrations; and know that God swears by His might that, ‘There is no punishment for the one who prays and prostrates and he shall have no fear of the fire on the day when man stands before the Lord of the worlds.’

“O People! One who provides the evening meal with which a fasting person breaks their fast (iftaar) during this month will be like one who has freed someone and his past sins will be forgiven.

Some of the people who were there then asked the Prophet (pbuh): “Not all of us are able to invite those who are fasting?”

The Prophet (pbuh) replied: “God gives this reward even if the iftar is a drink of water.”

“One who has good morals (Akhlaq) during this month will be able to pass the path of Siraat on the day when feet will slip.

“One who covers the faults of others will benefit in that God will curb His anger on the day of Judgement.

“As for one who honors an orphan; God will honor him on the day of judgement.

“And for the one who spreads his kindness, God will spread His mercy over him on the day of Judgement.

“As for the one who cuts the ties of relation; God will cut His mercy from him.

“Whoever performs a recommended prayer in this month, God will keep the fire of Hell away from him.

“Whoever performs an obligatory prayer, God will reward him with seventy prayers [worth] in this month.

“And whoever prays a great deal during this month will have his load lightened on the day of measure.

“He who recites one verse of the Holy Qur’an will be given the rewards of reciting the whole Qur’an during other months.

“O People! Indeed, during this month, the doors of heaven are open, therefore ask God not to close them for you; the doors of hell are closed, so ask God to keep them closed for you. During this month Satan (Shaytan) is imprisoned so ask your Lord not to let him have power over you.”

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Al-Hurr al-Ameli, Wasael al-Shia, V 10, P 313 & 314.