Sheikh Saleh Al-Talib, imam and khatib at the Grand Mosque, expressed his hope that the oppressed people in Syria would attain a decisive victory shortly.
“Almighty Allah may make the upcoming Eid Al-Fitr an occasion to celebrate two festivals: the festival at the conclusion of the month-long fasting and the festival of victory in Syria,” Al-Talib said in his Friday sermon.
The sheikh urged pilgrims and other worshipers to devote the blessed month to the attainment of spiritual advancement and get closer to Almighty Allah with righteous deeds and acts of kindness.
Hundreds of thousands of worshipers and Umrah pilgrims congregated at the Grand Mosque to attend the Friday prayer on the first day of Ramadan. The mosque authorities, police and Civil Defense had made necessary preparations to welcome the faithful in large numbers.
“We are passing our days unmindful of the events that have tumbled thrones, humbled nations and changed history. Some of those incidents are sad but they teach us many lessons,” Al-Talib said, advising Muslims to be thankful to Allah for sparing them the unfortunate events of the Syrian ordeal and enabling them to participate in one more Ramadan. A Muslim considers each opportunity to observe fast in the month of Ramadan as a special grace from Allah.
The sheikh said Ramadan was the month of compassion and pious deeds because of which the doors of the Paradise will be left open and the gates of the Hell sealed.
The khatib stressed the importance of paying special attention to study the Holy Qur’an as Archangel Jibril used to recite the entire holy book to the Prophet (peace be upon him) during the month.
The goal of fasting is to train the human mind in ways to obey Allah, purifying it with patience while controlling carnal desires, he said.
“A fasting man has two occasions of happiness. One when he breaks his fast and the other when he meets his Lord after his death,” the sheikh reminded the congregation.
At the Prophet’s Mosque, Imam and Khatib Sheikh Hussain Al-Asheikh exhorted people to use the blessed month to seek total forgiveness for their sins and to amass divine rewards. The greatest loss for a believer is to waste the month in unlawful pleasures and disobedience.
The imam concluded his sermon with the advice: “Obey the commands of Allah by doing acts that would elevate you to the status of a friend of Allah. Turn your heart and other organs to do what achieves you success in the life after death and put you on the road to Paradise.”
Eid may also be occasion for celebrating ‘victory in Syria’
