Agra: During the Friday sermon at the Nahar Wali Mosque in Sikandra, preacher Muhammad Iqbal addressed the worshippers and urged them to prepare for the Hereafter and value the blessed nights of Ramadan. In his speech, he recalled the sirens that used to sound at the time of iftar in the past and presented it as a meaningful lesson.
The preacher said that it was not long ago when a siren would sound at the time of iftar and people would break their fast after hearing that sound. The siren was actually an announcement that the time for eating and drinking had begun. However, the sound of that siren is no longer heard today.
He added that people should remember that a time will come when a siren-like call will be heard across the entire world. That call will actually be the announcement of the Day of Judgment. At that moment, people will be told that the time for eating and drinking has ended and every person must proceed toward the Field of Resurrection (Maidan-e-Hashr). On that day, food will only be given to those who succeeded in the test of this world.
Muhammad Iqbal further said that the world we live in is actually a place of trial. Human beings have not been sent here for comfort and luxury but for testing. This reality has also been clearly mentioned in the Quran. He recited verses 1 and 2 of Surah Al-Hajj:
“O mankind, fear your Lord. Indeed, the earthquake of the Hour is a tremendous thing. On the Day you see it, every nursing mother will forget the child she is nursing, every pregnant woman will miscarry, and you will see people as if they are intoxicated, while they are not intoxicated; rather, the punishment of Allah will be severe.”
Addressing the worshippers, he said that after such a clear message from the Quran, there is only one path for us: to seek the pleasure of our Lord. Especially during the blessed days and nights of Ramadan, believers should turn to sincere repentance, worship, and righteous deeds to attain closeness to Allah.
He further stated that two nights of Laylat al-Qadr have already passed while three still remain. Therefore, people should value these precious nights and engage in more worship, supplication, and seeking forgiveness so that they may achieve success both in this world and in the Hereafter.
At the end of the sermon, he prayed that Allah grant everyone the ability to benefit fully from the blessings of Ramadan and achieve success in the Hereafter. Ameen, O Lord of the Worlds.
