Praise be to Allah and may Allah raise the rank of Prophet Muhammad and protect his nation from that which he fears for it
O slaves of Allah.
Today is a great and glorious day. It is the Day of ^Idul-Fitr – an occasion of happiness and joy. As Muslims, joy and happiness in this world is felt when we apply all efforts to obey Allah and perform good deeds that gain reward and success in the Hereafter.
Allah ta^ala said:
قُلْ بِفَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِ فَبِذَلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُوا هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ
Ayah 58 of Surat Yunus means: [Say let them rejoice in the bounty of Allah and His mercy; it is better than what they collect].
Al–Hasan said: Every day in which a person has not disobeyed Allah, is a festive day for that person.
Dear brothers in Islam,
On this day, you are more urged to show mercy to one another and to be compassionate to others. Al-Bukhariyy may Allah raise his rank related that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam said: <<He who has no mercy towards others, will receive no mercy from Allah>>.
Brothers and sisters in Islam, there are endowments that one will not realize their value until they are missed; having righteous parents is among them. So be benevolent to your parents and never harm them. Remember the saying of the Prophet that for one to be accepted by Allah, one should be accepted by his parents.
Also among the meanings of mercy is to keep ties with your kin. Do not say: “I will visit only those who visit me.” Rather, keep ties with those who do the same with you as well as those who do not.
Another meaning of being merciful is found in what the Messenger of Allah sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam guided his nation to, when he said: <<The one who is not compassionate to our young and is not respectful to our elders, is not one who is attributed with our manners>>.
Finally, I remind you fellow brothers to pay the due Zakah upon you and your family members before the sunset of this day. I also urge you to fast the next six days of Shawwal because fasting them encompasses great rewards and benefits.
O Allah the Most Merciful, we ask You by the virtue of this blessed morning not to leave upon us a sin but forgiven, nor to leave among us an ailing person but healed, nor a depressed person but relieved.
O Allah we ask You not to leave among us a needy person but satisfied, nor a lost person but returned to his family safe and sound; O You are the Most Merciful.
