Unity and Redemption in the Final Days of Ramadan
[Arabic,إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ، نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ، وَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَسَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا، مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ، وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ. ]
Indeed, all praise is for Allah. We praise Him, seek His help, and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allah from the evil within ourselves and from the consequences of our wrong actions. Whomsoever Allah guides, none can misguide; whomsoever He leaves astray, none can guide. I bear witness there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah alone without partner, and Muhammad ﷺ is His servant and Messenger.
Part One: The Final Days of Ramadan and Redemption
Brothers, as we approach the end of this month of Ramadan, the very month in which the Prophet ﷺ said the gates of Jannah are open, let us reflect, deeply. Time waits for no one. Tomorrow is Saturday, the 29th of Ramadan. By Saturday night at Maghrib, Ramadan will likely be over. Eid will be upon us Sunday morning. This is it. This is your final chance this year to seize the forgiveness that Allah has promised.
The Prophet ﷺ warned us about the one who misses Ramadan without gaining forgiveness. Jibreel said to him:
[Hadith,Tirmidhi,"May he be ruined, the one who finds Ramadan and passes it by, yet is not forgiven."]
And the Prophet ﷺ said Ameen to this curse. Brothers, we cannot afford to waste what remains. Every moment between now and the end of Ramadan is precious. Allah says clearly:
[Quran,2:183,"O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous."]
This righteousness, or Taqwa, that Allah intends for us means not just merely fasting from our food, but leaving behind our sins and turning fully towards Allah. Ramadan is a workshop or training for us, showing us what we are capable of being at all times, even after Ramadan ends. It has been, for well over a thousand years now, a turning point in the lives of millions of Muslims, to give up bad habits and commit to Allah.
For you or myself personally, we never know if another Ramadan will come again. Allah says:
[Quran,63:10,"And spend from what We have provided you before death approaches one of you and he says, 'My Lord, if only You would delay me for a brief term so I could give charity and be among the righteous.'"]
But when that time comes, it is too late. So we must make the most of these final two days. And for those who desire to sincerely turn to Allah in repentance, Allah's promise is clear:
[Quran,39:53,"Say, 'O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.'"]
The Prophet ﷺ taught us extensively about Allah's great generosity and taught us three very specific ways to seek it specifically in this blessed month of Ramadan:
[Hadith,Bukhari & Muslim,"Whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and seeking Allah's reward, all his past sins will be forgiven."]
[Hadith,Bukhari & Muslim,"Whoever stands (in prayer) in Ramadan with faith and seeking Allah's reward, all his past sins will be forgiven."]
[Hadith,Bukhari & Muslim,"Whoever prays on Laylat al-Qadr with faith and seeking reward, all his past sins will be forgiven."]
So three chances: Fast sincerely, pray sincerely, and seek Laylat al-Qadr sincerely, and every sin is wiped away. Like the pureness of a newborn baby, this Ramadan can be the moment that Allah cleanses anything in our pasts and gives us that new beginning.
Laylatul Qadr: The Night of Power
Brothers, among the greatest gifts Allah has given us in Ramadan is Laylatul Qadr, the Night of Power. Allah says:
[Quran,97:1-5,"Indeed, We sent the Quran down during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn."]
Better than a thousand months. That is over 83 years of worship in a single night. A lifetime of reward in one night. And where is this night? The Prophet ﷺ told us to seek it in the last ten nights, especially the odd nights. Tonight is the 27th night. Tomorrow night is the 29th. These are our most likely nights.
What are the signs of Laylatul Qadr? The Prophet ﷺ described it:
[Hadith,Muslim,"Laylatul Qadr is a calm, serene night, neither hot nor cold, and the sun rises the next morning weak and reddish."]
[Hadith,Ahmad,"The night is calm and pleasant, neither hot nor cold, and no shooting star is seen until morning."]
Brothers, even in prison, you can recognize this night. Pay attention to the peace you feel. The calmness in your heart. The sweetness of your worship. And when you believe it has come, throw yourself into worship with everything you have.
What should you do on Laylatul Qadr? The Prophet ﷺ gave us clear guidance. Aisha asked him:
[Hadith,Tirmidhi,"O Messenger of Allah, if I know which night is Laylatul Qadr, what should I say?" He said, 'Say: Allahumma innaka afuwwun tuhibbul afwa fa'fu anni.' (O Allah, You are Pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.)"]
This is the du'a to repeat over and over on these blessed nights:
[Dua,اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي,Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'anni,"O Allah, You are Pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me"]
Brothers, the word 'afuww' is more than just forgiveness. It means to wipe away completely, as if the sin never existed. To erase it from the records. This is what we need. This is what we beg Allah for on these final nights.
Even here in your cells, you can seek Laylatul Qadr. Make wudu as best as you can. Pray tahajjud, even if it is just two rakahs. Make du'a. Read Quran if you have it. Make dhikr. Cry to Allah. Beg Him for His pardon. These are not ordinary nights. These are nights when the angels descend. When mercy overflows. When Allah accepts repentance.
Practical Steps for the Final Nights in Prison
Brothers, let me be very practical with you. What can you do in the next two nights to maximize your worship and catch Laylatul Qadr?
First, stay awake as much as possible after Isha prayer. I know it is difficult here. I know you are tired from fasting. But push yourself. The Prophet ﷺ used to exert himself in the last ten nights like no other time. Aisha said:
[Hadith,Bukhari & Muslim,"When the last ten days of Ramadan came, the Prophet would tighten his waist belt, stay up at night, and wake his family."]
Second, make abundant du'a. This is the time when Allah answers. Ask for everything you need. Forgiveness for your past. Guidance for your future. Relief from your hardships. Blessings for your family. Entry into Jannah. Freedom from the Fire. Pour out your heart to Allah.
Third, make dhikr continuously. Say SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar. Say La ilaha illallah. Say the du'a of Laylatul Qadr over and over. Your tongue should not stop remembering Allah.
Fourth, read Quran if you have access to it. Every letter is ten rewards, and in Ramadan those rewards are multiplied even more. And on Laylatul Qadr? Imagine the reward.
Fifth, and this is crucial, brothers, seek forgiveness from each other. If you have wronged a brother, apologize tonight. If someone has wronged you, forgive them tonight. The Prophet ﷺ said:
[Hadith,Abu Dawud,"Whoever has wronged his brother in his honor or anything else, let him ask for his pardon before the Day when there will be no dinars and no dirhams. If he has good deeds, they will be taken from him according to the wrong he did, and if he has no good deeds, some of the bad deeds of his companion will be taken and put on him."]
Do not enter Eid with grudges in your heart. Do not let Ramadan end while you are still angry at your Muslim brother. Even in this place, you can let go. You can forgive. You can reconcile.
Brothers, Ramadan is not about hunger and thirst. It is about change. It is about becoming someone new. Now as Ramadan ends, we should ask ourselves: Have we changed? Are we still quick to argue, lie, backbite, or sin? Or have we softened our hearts? Allah says:
[Quran,25:70,"Except those who repent, believe, and do good deeds, for them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."]
Brothers, even here in prison, your deeds reach Allah. Even behind walls, your heart is seen by the One who created the hearts. The Prophet ﷺ told us:
[Hadith,Muslim,"Allah looks not at your bodies nor your wealth, but He looks at your hearts and your deeds."]
This is the absolute beauty of our deen, that each and every person is directly connected with their Creator. Even during the darkest hour of the night you can speak directly to Him in du'a and give every burden to Him. If your heart is sincere, if your Tawbah (repentance) is true, then this Ramadan could be the beginning of your Jannah.
Now, as the month ends, the time of Eid approaches. Eid is not just celebration, it is a symbol that you made it through the month, and you now stand in front of Allah with a cleaner record than before. Allah says:
[Quran,2:185,"The month of Ramadan is that which the Quran was revealed. A guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sees the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey—then an equal number of days are to be made up. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and wants for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that to which He has guided you, and perhaps you will be grateful."]
So we say Takbeer after Ramadan, saying:
[Dua,اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ,Allāhu Akbar Allāhu Akbar Allāhu Akbar Lā ilāha illa Allāh Allāhu Akbar Allāhu Akbar wa Lillāhil-ḥamd,"Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, there is no deity but Allah, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, and all praise belongs to Allah"]
This is done from the moment Ramadan ends, at Maghrib this Saturday, until the Eid prayer which follows on Sunday morning. The Prophet ﷺ said:
[Hadith,Bukhari & Muslim,"Every nation has its festival, and this is our festival."]
[Hadith,Ahmad,"They are days of eating, drinking, and remembering Allah."]
Even if you are behind walls, you can glorify Allah, say the takbir, make du'a, feel joy in your heart, and share kind words with your brothers. And before Eid, remember Zakat al-Fitr, a charity that purifies your fast. Ibn Abbas said:
[Hadith,Abu Dawud,"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ obligated Zakat al-Fitr as a purification for the fasting person from idle talk and foul language, and as food for the poor."]
If you are unable to give it yourself due to your condition then this is waived obviously, but if you have the means then seek help from the chaplain, councilors, or family on how you can fulfill this duty.
So before Eid comes, forgive. Let go of past arguments. Make peace with each other. Let your hearts be clean when you stand before Allah in Eid. Allah loves those who forgive:
[Quran,42:40,"The reward of an evil deed is its equivalent. But whoever pardons and seeks reconciliation, then their reward is with Allah."]
Part Two: Unity as Defined by the Prophet ﷺ
In this second half, I want to discuss unity as defined by the Prophet ﷺ, especially as we prepare for Eid.
The Prophet ﷺ taught us to forgive, to reconcile, and to enter Eid clean-hearted. He ﷺ said:
[Hadith,Muslim,"The doors of Paradise are opened on Mondays and Thursdays, and every servant who does not associate anything with Allah is forgiven—except the one who has hatred between himself and his brother. It is said: 'Hold these two until they reconcile.'"]
Think about this, brothers. Your fasting, your prayers, your charity, all of it can be held back from being accepted because of a grudge you carry against your brother. Is any argument worth that? Is any insult, any disrespect, any disagreement worth having your worship rejected?
Now, dear brothers, as we seek redemption, know that unity among us is essential. We unify upon truth, upon the Quran and Sunnah alone, as clearly instructed by Allah:
[Quran,3:103,"And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided."]
But what is unity? Our Prophet ﷺ beautifully described unity clearly:
[Hadith,Bukhari & Muslim,"The example of the believers in their mutual love, mercy, and compassion is that of one body; if one limb suffers, the whole body responds with sleeplessness and fever."]
This is our reality as Muslims. When one brother suffers, we all should feel it. When one brother is in pain, we should all hurt. This is true brotherhood. This is true unity.
And he ﷺ warned clearly against disunity and conflict:
[Hadith,Sahih Muslim,"Do not envy each other, do not hate each other, do not turn your backs on each other, and be, O servants of Allah, brothers."]
He ﷺ further defined how our unity is expressed practically:
[Hadith,Bukhari & Muslim,"None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself."]
Thus, unity is sincere brotherhood, rooted only in Allah's revelation, free from divisions and innovations. It is mercy and compassion among us, guiding each other gently and sincerely back to Allah's straight path.
Brothers, especially here in prison, unity is critical. You need each other. You are all you have. When the doors lock and the lights go out, it is your Muslim brothers who will be there for you. Who will support you. Who will remind you of Allah. Who will pray with you.
Do not let this month end with broken relationships. Do not let Shaytan cause division among you. The Prophet ﷺ said:
[Hadith,Muslim,"It is not lawful for a Muslim to abandon his brother beyond three days, such that they meet and both turn away from each other. The better of them is the one who gives the greeting of salam first."]
Be the better one. Be the one who extends the hand first. Be the one who says salaam first. Be the one who forgives first. Allah will honor you for it.
And remember, brothers, unity does not mean we agree on everything. It does not mean we never advise each other or correct each other. But it means we do so with love, with mercy, with gentleness. Allah says:
[Quran,16:125,"Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best."]
Let these final blessed days of Ramadan be a chance for all of us to repent, forgive each other, and renew our brotherhood firmly upon the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. Just as the warring tribes of Arabia united in Islam with the Companions, so is how we as Muslims today will unite in mutual love of both Allah, and each other as brothers.
When Eid comes on Sunday, let us celebrate together. Let us pray together. Let us embrace each other. Let us show the world, even from behind these walls, what true Islamic brotherhood looks like. Let us make this Eid a new beginning for all of us.
Closing Du'a
We ask Allah to accept our fasts, our prayers, our charity, and our repentance. We ask Him to grant us Laylatul Qadr and to pardon all our sins. We ask Him to unite our hearts upon His Book and the Sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ. We ask Him to bless us with a joyous Eid and to make us among the freed from the Fire in this blessed month.
We ask Allah to make us firm upon His straight path, to guide us and not let us go astray, to have mercy on us and forgive us.
Whatever good was said in this khutbah is from Allah alone, and whatever mistakes or errors are from myself and from Shaytan. I ask Allah to forgive me and you for any shortcomings.
I say these words of mine, and I seek forgiveness from Allah for myself and you all. Seek His forgiveness—indeed, He is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
[Arabic,أَقُولُ قَوْلِي هَذَا، وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ. ]