A proposed program for imams and preachers in Ramadan

There is no doubt that Ramadan is a golden opportunity for imams and preachers. It is one of the seasons of goodness where hearts and souls are eager to draw near Allah (Glory be to Him), Masjids are full of those who perform Salah, people attend or listen to religious lessons, and people give in charity frequently in this month.

Truly, Ramadan is a way of life if we act well and do righteous deeds, but it is rather a training course for the days after Ramadan.

Imams and preachers are the knights of this month, who bear all the burden of mobilizing people for this month because they can affect people easily, otherwise people will be like a feather in a wind driven by devils and their associates through satellite channels.

Media gets ready for this month by viewing movies, series, competitions, and programs through interesting ads. These words spread: "Coming in Ramadan," "exclusively on TV,” "Soon in Ramadan,” “First show," and these ads have drawn the attentions of people from a channel to another; and the question is: Did preachers and Islamic media get ready for this month? What are the attractive features which masjids prepared for this month?

I hope that this proposed program would help setting a plan for this Blessed month, let us know the steps of this program.

The First Program:

What should be done before Ramadan?

This is the question we (imams and preachers) should ask ourselves; have we prepared our audience to Ramadan? Or do we wait until the coming of Ramadan? Many imams and preachers are waiting for Ramadan to start enthusiastically, then their vigor decreases because masjids return again to the prior conditions, do you know why? Because we did not prepare the audience for Ramadan.

Important means before Ramadan:

1- A sermon entitled "How do we get ready for Ramadan?" It would be better if they were at the beginning of Sha`ban or in Rajab.

2- Lessons in masjids to speak about "Acts of Worship during Ramadan and how to perfect them: "Fasting and its rulings," "Salah and its morals," "The virtue of the Glorious Qur’an," "The importance of charity," these are the most important acts of worship in Ramadan, and the question is: Is it better to inform people about these acts of worship before Ramadan? Or during Ramadan?!

3- We may deal with these issues which we have mentioned in Friday Sermon, in addition to "the virtue of performing the Fajr Salah," "the virtue of keeping to Sunan [any acting, saying, or approval of the Prophet (peace be upon him)]", and other acts of worship during Ramadan.

4- Preparing people for goodness through the following:

• Bags [full of basic needs, such as: cereals, oil, dates...etc] to be distributed during Ramadan (taken from the people of the neighborhood to be distributed to the poor).

The importance of these bags show up clearly this year because of the events passed by most countries that prevented many poor families from work.

• Announcing the activities of masjids during Ramadan such as: "Coming in Ramadan," to be written in a big tablet and placed in a visible place in the masjid to inform people of the activities.

The Second Program:

A proposed program for Ramadan:

1. This program starts with the Fajr Salah and performing it in the masjid:

• Thoughts of Dawn (questions and prizes): some youth may prepare these questions under the supervision of masjids’ imams, follow-up daily, and deliver the prizes after Tarawih (a special voluntary night Salah in Ramadan).

2- Afternoon Lessons:

During which a preacher talks in the beginning of the month about "the virtue of Ramadan," then talks about a series of topics such as:

• A series of the following: (Series about the Hereafter), (Stories of the Prophets), (Explanation of a Hadith), and (Fiqh of the acts of worship).

3- Amusement programs:

• Amusement programs have great importance because they are done between Tarawih. They serve as motivation for the public to complete Tarawih and raise the feeling of submissiveness to Allah.

These ideas may be embodied in the following:

• Talking about an Ayah which the imam recites in Tarawih.

• Talking about "series of the revival of the hearts".

4- Friday Sermon:

And Friday Salah in Ramadan has a special significance, and I suggest:

• Assigning this sermon to discuss the issues of concern to the nation because people in Ramadan are closer to good deeds more than any other time, therefore the effect will be more powerful.

A preacher may discuss an issue and tries to convince the people of it, for example, "Marriage and its most important problems," "positivity and its importance," "Danger of heedlessness," "the importance of work," and "rumors and its danger."

The Third Program:

There are ethics and virtues which many people who perform Salah overlook, of which:

• Sitting in the masjids until sunrise.

• Reading a portion of the Qur’an with a group of people.

• Correcting and perfecting the recitation.

• The morning and evening Adhkar (invocations and Remembrances said at certain times on a regular basis).

A preacher has to remind people of these virtues and share them.

The Fourth Program:

Important commandments for my fellow imams and preachers:

• Seek the help of Allah (Glory be to Him) and place the saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him) always before you: “For, by Allah, if Allah guides just one person through you that is better for you than to possess the most valuable camels.” [Reported by Muslim].

• You should prepare your materials, sermons, and your lessons early.

• Do not forget to prepare for Ramadan.

• Do not forget to seize the chance by reciting the Glorious Qur’an and Adhkar.

• You are the first listener to your words, so be an example for others.

• Always raise the determination and vigor of you audience.

• Determine your goal in all your speeches and sermons in order that your speech reach clear and comprehensible.

• Renew your speech and do not let it go on one frequency.

• Listen to what your audience demand and it would be better if you make a questionnaire to find out the concerns of your audience, for we do not want to be in a direction and the audience would be in a different direction!

• After each sermon, lesson, or thought look at your listeners and evaluate yourself and your subject, and on this basis, select your next topic.

These are some suggestions which I offer to my fellow imams and preachers.

I invoke Allah (the Glorious and Exalted) to make them useful for us and for our Muslim brothers and sisters and to get out of Ramadan in the best way which pleases Allah.

O Allah, bless Rajab and Sha`ban for us and make us attend Ramadan.