Cure of Hearts

As the crescent of a new year rises, we turn our hearts back to Allah. A new beginning is not only counted by days, but by the state of the heart; a heart softened through dhikr, awakened through salawāt, and guided by the light of the Beloved ﷺ. May this new Islamic year be a journey from heedlessness to remembrance, from distance to nearness, and from the noise of the world to the peace of the soul. Ya Allah, make this year a year of barakah, forgiveness, spiritual openings, and hearts illuminated by Your love. 1448 AH

Hajj is the call of a lifetime, answered after years of saving, sacrifice, patience, and longing. People arrive with tired bodies, humble hearts, and tearful du‘ās, seeking only the mercy and forgiveness of Allah. And as the blessed ten days of Dhul Hijjah begin, the most virtuous days of the year, every takbīr, every du‘ā, every tear, every act of worship carries immense reward. May Allah accept the Hajj of every pilgrim, multiply our good deeds in these sacred days, forgive our sins, elevate our ranks, and return every pilgrim as pure as the day they were born. Ameen.

As the season of exams approaches, may Allah ﷻ open the doors of understanding, place sakīnah in the hearts of every student, illuminate their minds with beneficial knowledge, and grant them tawfīq, success, and sincerity through the barakah of our master Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Eid Mubarak! May this blessed day bring you and your family joy, peace, and countless blessings. May Allah accept your fasting, your prayers, and every sincere effort you made throughout Ramaḍān. As we celebrate today, may your heart be filled with gratitude, your home with happiness, and your life with continued guidance and barakah. May Allah grant you ease in all your affairs, forgive your shortcomings, and allow the light of Ramaḍān to remain with you long after it has passed. Eid Mubarak to you and your loved ones — may it be a day of joy, unity, and acceptance.

As we reach the 28th day of Ramaḍān, the farewell of this blessed month is close, and with it comes a final act that completes and perfects our fasting: Zakāt al-Fiṭr. This charity is not just an obligation, it is a mercy and a purification. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prescribed Zakāt al-Fiṭr as: “a purification for the fasting person from idle talk and shortcomings, and a provision for the poor.” After a month of striving, we recognise that our fasting was not perfect, there were moments of distraction, lapses in speech, and a lack of full presence. Zakāt al-Fiṭr comes to cleanse what remains and to elevate our fast so it is presented in a better state. It also carries a beautiful social wisdom: – ensuring that the needy can celebrate Eid with dignity – spreading joy so no one is left out on the day of happiness – reminding us that worship is not only personal, but communal As these final days pass, the believer should ensure: – Zakāt al-Fiṭr is given before the Eid prayer – it is given on behalf of every member of the household – it reaches those who are eligible in time At this stage of Ramaḍān, we are not only asking “Did I fast well?” but also “Did I fulfil the rights of others alongside my worship?” Zakāt al-Fiṭr becomes a final seal upon the month, a humble admission that our deeds need purification, and a hopeful offering that Allah accepts them despite their shortcomings. A beautiful supplication to increase in these final days is: “O Allah, accept from us, indeed You are the All-Hearing, All-Knowing and turn to us in mercy, indeed You are the Accepter of repentance, the Most Merciful.” May Allah accept our fasting, purify our shortcomings, and allow us to complete Ramaḍān in a way that is pleasing to Him.

As we reach the 25th night of Ramaḍān, the month is now gently drawing toward its end. The believer pauses to reflect: the days that once felt long have passed quickly, and the nights that were full of promise are almost behind us. These final nights are among the most precious moments of the entire year. Within them lies Laylat al-Qadr, a night better than a thousand months. Each remaining night carries the possibility that it may be the one in which destinies are written, sins are erased, and hearts are transformed. At this stage of Ramaḍān, the reflection becomes more personal. A person asks themselves: What has this month changed within me? Has my heart become softer? Have I drawn closer to Allah than I was at its beginning? Whatever the answer, the door is still open. The final nights are not a time for regret, but for renewed effort and hope. Even a single sincere night can outweigh years of heedlessness. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would tighten his waistcloth, awaken his family, and spend the nights in worship during these last days of Ramaḍān, showing us that the end of the month is not a time to slow down, but to reach its spiritual peak. These nights invite us to: – increase in duʿāʾ and seeking forgiveness – spend time in quiet prayer and reflection – give charity and acts of goodness – ask Allah sincerely for acceptance of what has passed The supplication taught for these nights remains the most beautiful to repeat: اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ العَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي Allāhumma innaka ʿafuwwun tuḥibbul-ʿafwa faʿfu ʿannī “O Allah, You are Most Pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.” Ramaḍān is nearing its farewell, but its greatest gifts may still lie ahead. The wise believer treats every remaining night as if it could be Laylat al-Qadr. May Allah allow us to witness these final nights with sincerity, accept our fasting and prayers, and write us among those who leave Ramaḍān forgiven and transformed.

As we pass from the second ashrah of Ramaḍān into the third, the believer is reminded that this blessed month is a journey of the heart. The second ashrah was the time of forgiveness — مغفرة. Through fasting, prayer, and repentance, we sought Allah’s pardon for our sins and shortcomings. It was a period of turning back to Him with humility, asking that our faults be covered and our hearts cleansed. Now we enter the third ashrah — the days of liberation from the Fire — عتق من النار. These final days carry a special urgency. The believer asks: Have I drawn nearer to Allah in these past days? Has my heart softened? Have my prayers become more present? If there is still distance, these last nights are the opportunity to close that gap. The Prophet ﷺ said that in Ramaḍān Allah frees people from the Fire every night. The final ashrah is therefore a time to increase in devotion, sincerity, and hope. It is the time to: – seek Laylat al-Qadr in the last ten nights – increase in duʿāʾ, especially asking for forgiveness – give more charity and acts of goodness – spend the nights in prayer, reflection, and remembrance of Allah ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها asked the Prophet ﷺ what to say if she finds Laylat al-Qadr. He replied: اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ العَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي Allāhumma innaka ʿafuwwun tuḥibbul-ʿafwa faʿfu ʿannī “O Allah, You are Most Pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.” If the earlier days helped us build discipline and seek forgiveness, these final days are about closeness to Allah and hoping for His complete mercy and salvation. May Allah allow us to reach the last ten nights with sincerity, grant us Laylat al-Qadr, and make us among those freed from the Fire.