 We begin with the thanks and the praises of Allah SWT, the one who has specifically chosen every single one of us by name to be here on this blessed day of Juma'ah in the month of Ramadan. Allah SWT in his pre-eternal knowledge knew every single individual that would make it here today and so he has chosen you specifically to receive this specific mercy and forgiveness and for this being chosen we should be immensely grateful to him SWT. Allah SWT opens this month of Ramadan for us as an opportunity for us to rush towards his forgiveness. Allah SWT says in the Qur'an rush and race one another to the forgiveness of your Lord. He's opening this invitation for us. Who amongst us is going to be the first to receive the forgiveness of Allah SWT? Who is going to be the first amongst us to receive the forgiveness of Allah? He promises for those who are Muttaqeen, for those who have this true awareness and fear of Allah, that he promises them Jannah. He encompasses the entire heavens and the earth within Jannah. And so what are these qualities of a Muttaqi of a person who possesses Taqwa? Allah SWT gives us two examples that allows us to understand our nature. With these two examples a person can tell where they stand. The first example is this person's relationship with money. Whether this person is in a time of prosperity or adversity, this person continuously remembers Allah and spends in the sake of Allah SWT. Because in adversity someone can forget Allah, because they think about how am I going to provide for this, how am I going to pay for that, how am I going to plan for this. And so that occupies them and they forget Allah. And in a time of prosperity the person is occupied with knowing how much money they have. How much money did this store make? How much up did this store go versus down? And they're occupied with this. So the person who is constantly spending in the path of Allah SWT, this is the first quality. Then the second quality is this person's relationship to anger. What is this person's relationship to anger? The person who is able to control themselves and forgive people, that if someone offends you and someone hurts you, the response of the Muttaqi should be that I forgive this person and I do better for this person. Zain al-Aabideen, the great grandson of the Prophet Muhammad SAW, was making wudu. And the maid who was pouring water for him dropped the pot and the pot shattered. Upon this his face became red with anger. And so quickly she recited the verse, his anger quickly went away. And he said, how can I repay her such that I do good for her? So he sets her free. Upon setting her free she recites the verse, والله يحب المحسينين. So the person who when they remember Allah they're able to control their anger and do good to the person who did harm to them. والذين إذا فعلوا فاحشة ظلموا أنفسهم. And then the person who does some sort of evil act transgresses against Allah or transgresses against themselves. Especially in our culture it's very easy to bring curse words and profanity out at that time. It was a time of anger I spoke in a manner of anger. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala describes the muttiqi in a different way. والذين إذا فعلوا فاحشة ظلموا أنفسهم ذكروا الله. This person remembers Allah. فستغفروا لذنوبهم. And they seek forgiveness from Allah from what they did that was wrong. ومن يغفر الظنوبة And who is going to grant forgiveness except Allah. So these are a few qualities that describe the state of a muttiqi, of a person who possesses taqwa. If we can build a relationship with ourselves so that we can control how generous we are. So that we can control ourselves in a time of anger. Then Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala promises us, promises us his forgiveness. And this is the month in which to seek forgiveness. So with these two advices from the Quran to spend for the sake of Allah. Especially those who need it most. Your friends and families, the elderly and the children. If you know a family doesn't have suhur and iftar. If you know that kids in a household won't have gifts and money for aid. Spend on those people first who are closest to you. Your neighbors who are in need. People who need suhur and iftar. That they're experiencing Ramadan throughout the year because they don't have food throughout the year. So Ramadan, the fasting doesn't change for them. Go and spend money on them. And to work with our relationship with anger. In this culture where everyone, the impact matters more than the intention. The muttaqi is the person who must stand beyond that and say no. I'm going to forgive regardless of your intention and regardless of your impact. So we ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to make us of the muttaqeen. To act upon the Quran Al-Kareem. And to continue to enter us into the people who are going to be with the Nabiyeen and the Salihin and the Shuhada. Maulana Muhammad kama ba'aratta ala Sayyidina Ibrahim wa ala ala aali Sayyidina Ibrahim fil aalamina innaka hamidun majeed. Rabbana aatina fil dunya hasanatun wa fil aakilat hasanatun wa qina aadab al-naar. Rabbir ham huma kama rabbayani saqeera. Rabbir ham huma kama rabbayani saqeera. Rabbir ham huma kama rabbayani saqeera. Rabbana hablana min azwajina wa dhurriyatina kura ta'ayun wa jaalna lal muttaqeen imama. Ibad Allah rahimakum Allah. Inna Allah ya'muru bil adli wal ihsan. Wa isa'idil kurba wa yinha'n al fahshayi wal munkari wal baghi. Ya'idhukum la'alakum tazakkarun. Uzhkur Allah ya'zkorkum. Wa du'uhu ya'stajab lakum. Wa la'zhkur Allah ta'ala. A'la wa awla wa akbar. Wa aqeem al-salah.