All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, his companions, and those who follow him. To proceed:
Allah (swt) says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
"O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous." (Quran 2:183)
And He (swt) says:
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ
"The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it." (Quran 2:185)
Dear brothers,
O Muslims,
Ramadan overshadows us once again with its goodness and blessings. It is a month that Allah has distinguished above all others, pouring into it His mercy and multiplying its rewards. Its beginning is mercy, its middle is forgiveness, and its end is salvation from the Fire. Allah (swt) has reserved it for Himself, rewarding whomever He wills without measure, as the Prophet (saw) said in the Hadith Qudsi:
كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ إِلَّا الصَّوْمَ فَإِنَّهُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ
"Every deed of the son of Adam is for him except fasting; it is for Me and I shall reward for it."
The month of Ramadan is a witness in the history of Islam; in it, the Noble Quran was revealed, and in it occurred the manifest victory and conquest. It is a month of work, diligence, and exertion—a month of worship, patience, and Jihad. In it, Muslims would compete in righteous deeds where rewards and virtues are multiplied. Their Khalifah and their governors would protect the security of the lands and the people, carrying Islam to the world through Dawah and Jihad. Thus, the holy month was a month of glory for the Muslims and a month of humiliation for the disbelievers.
This is how Ramadan used to arrive, bringing bright days for Islam and Muslims. It was a beacon of goodness, a light of guidance, and a banner of Jihad. The Khalifah of the Muslims, their Imam, would rule them by the Law of Allah and lead them in Jihad in the path of Allah. Their armies would traverse the vast deserts and their ships would sail the high seas to raise the Word of Allah and spread justice throughout the world.
Their armies would address the ocean waters, saying: "If we knew of lands behind you, we would cross you to raise the banner of Islam." Their Khalifah would call out to the clouds: "Rain wherever you wish, for by the will of Allah, your harvest will come to the land of the Muslims." The Muslims stood behind their Khalifah, supporting him when he did well and holding him accountable if he erred, for both he and they were equal before the Law of Allah.
The Ummah, the State, and the society were moved by Islam and moved for it. They would welcome Ramadan with joyful, smiling, and optimistic faces, and bid it farewell with sadness, longing for its return to witness goodness with it and through it, thus succeeding in both worlds—and that is the supreme success.
This is how Ramadan used to come. How does it come today?
It comes today while the Khilafah has been destroyed for eighty-three years, and the Muslims have not yet restored it. This is at a time when Muslims fall into sin after three days of the lands being devoid of a Khalifah, except for those who are actively engaged in working for its re-establishment with seriousness and sincerity.
It comes today while the most prominent Muslim lands are occupied: Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Kashmir, Cyprus, and Southern Sudan. The Muslims are many, but they are without weight or influence due to the absence of a Khalifah who looks after their affairs, protects their integrity, and serves as a shield behind whom they fight and by whom they are protected.
It comes today while the Muslims—except those upon whom my Lord has had mercy—have been overcome by customs for which Allah has sent down no authority. Instead of Ramadan being a month of worship and Jihad, it has become a month of laziness and long slumber. Instead of a month of courage and boldness, it has become a month of incapacity and hesitation. Instead of competing in virtues and good deeds, they compete in varieties of food.
As for the rulers of the Muslims, they have sold the lands and the people, paved the way for the disbelievers to occupy Muslim lands, and followed submissively in the wake of the West, especially America. They have betrayed Allah, His Messenger, and the believers. As for Ramadan, they have cast it behind their backs, stripping it of its spirit and turning it into mere rituals. They open it with a mixture of idle talk while the hypocrites applaud them, and then the gathering disperses. The "best" among these rulers is the one who announces the closing of the main doors of entertainment houses, bars, and restaurants during the nights of Ramadan, only to point with an arrow to a back door for entry into those closed places!
As for their media, Ramadan to them is a month for "Ramadan evenings," musical concerts, immoral films, and degraded soap operas. Yet, these stations insist they are "reviving" the nights of Ramadan!
O Muslims,
Ramadan will surely return, by Allah’s permission, to illuminate the night of the Muslims and find shade under the banner of the Khalifah of the Muslims. Goodness in this Ummah is continuous and will not be cut off until the Day of Judgment. Throughout history, this Ummah has given birth to men of strength and piety who restored the Ummah’s glory and high status; the days of defeating the Crusaders and Tatars and then expelling them are towering witnesses to that. Today, the Ummah is proud that among it are youth who believe in their Lord and whom Allah has increased in guidance. They have resolved to join their nights with their days in tireless work, sincere to Allah (swt) and truthful with the Messenger of Allah (saw), to restore the Ummah's glory by re-establishing the Righteous Khilafah, not fearing the blame of any critic for the sake of Allah until they achieve what they resolved or perish in its pursuit.
Hizb ut Tahrir and the Muslims behind it realize that the glory of this Ummah will not return except through the Khilafah. They also realize that the Messenger of Allah (saw) gave glad tidings of its return as a Righteous Khilafah just as it began. They see that its days have drawn near and that they are, Allah willing, its knights.
وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصِّيَامَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ
"Allah has promised those who have believed among you and done righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession [to authority] upon the earth just as He granted it to those before them." (Quran 24:55)
O Muslims,
If Allah (swt) did not decree that this year be coupled with the establishment of the Righteous Khilafah and the Khalifah himself announcing the start of the blessed month, then we supplicate to Him (swt) that this be the last Ramadan that passes upon the Muslims without a Khilafah and a Khalifah, without conquest and victory, and without power and glory for the Muslims. At that time, Ramadan will be shaded by the Khilafah, its light and sharpness will return, it will return as a month of worship and Jihad, and its two Takbirs will return:
The Takbir of the Mu'adhin announcing to the fasting person his Iftar, and the Takbir of the Mujahid announcing his victory.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْرًا
"Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent." (Quran 65:3)
May Allah accept the fasting and prayers from all Muslims and make them among those who listen to the Word and follow the best of it.
1 Ramadan 1425 AH October 14, 2004 CE
Ameer of Hizb ut Tahrir Ata bin Khalil Abu al-Rashtah