Life After Ramadan
In the Name of Allah, the Most High.
Haz. Abu Hurairah (Rz) reported that the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said, “Whoever observes fasts during the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Ramadan, the holy month of fasting has passed by us. This is a month when we all race to gather as many good deeds as possible. It is the month of where Allah (SWT) has promised immense rewards for the pious slaves. With the departure of this month, a stage, a part of our life has also passed. This is how life rushes away, every day we are getting closer to the everlasting abode. Ramadan is the month of opportunity for the believers to direct one’s soul towards sincere acts and keep it away from vices, so that it grows spiritually.
Ramadan is a month when we Muslims not only abstain ourselves from food and water but also strive to become better people by engaging in good deeds, reflection, introspection and doing immense worship. This month serves as a time of spiritual rejuvenation, and it is the month when Allah showers His Mercy abundantly. This month offers us to refine our hearts and to remove negative traits and replace them with positive ones. One of the most significant changes that should occur in Muslims’ lives after Ramadan is that their hearts be filled with piety (taqwa), as it is the main purpose of fasting. Allah (SWT) says: “O you, who believe, fasting is enjoined upon you as it was enjoined upon those before you that you may become God-fearing (Muttaqi).”(2:183) Fasting is meant to instill this quality of taqwa within the hearts that keeps us away from all forbidden acts not only in Ramadan but in all other months of the year as well.
In Ramadan when people train themselves sincerely to abstain from things that are otherwise lawful and halal under normal circumstances for the sake of Allah (SWT), they reach a higher level of enlightenment and it becomes easy for them to ward off the desires of their lower selves (nafs). Thus, they can walk on the path of piety without any difficulty in the months other than Ramadan as well.
If we become successful in achieving the main objective of fasting i.e. piety it would help us to maintain the same zeal for performing the good and abstaining from the evil throughout the whole year in order to please our Creator, Allah (SWT). In a hadith it is said that the best of deeds is the one that is, though little, is consistent. Thus, consistency is necessary as in Surah Al-Ahqaf verse 13, Allah (SWT) says, “Surely those who say, ‘Our Lord is Allah’, and remain steadfast—there will be no fear for them, nor will they grieve. It is they who will be the residents of Paradise, staying there forever, as a reward for what they used to do.”
Our Prophet (PBUH) used to fast on specific days even after Ramadan. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) has said, “Deeds are presented (to Allah) on Monday and Thursday and I would like that my deeds be presented while I am fasting.” (At-Tirmidhi)
In another Hadith it is mentioned, ‘Haz. Abu Dharr (Rz) said: “The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said to me: “If you fast any part of the month, then fast the thirteenth, fourteenth and the fifteenth.” (At-Tirmidhi)
Besides fasting, another good act of charity is also done immensely by every Muslim during this month. Such acts of worship help one purify their souls, removing negative feelings such as envy, greed, hatred and replace them with compassion, empathy and kindness.
Doing good deeds should not be restricted to Ramadan. It is the month that teaches us self-restrain and tolerance. It teaches us patience and we must let these characteristics grow in us. We must let the fruits of Ramadan fill our life with sweetness of faith.
There are many good deeds that a Muslim does during Ramadan, and one of them is also giving Zakat. Now, Zakat is given once a year but we can always keep doing charity. In the Holy Quran, Allah (swt) says: “Indeed, the men who practice charity and the women who practice charity and (they who) have loaned Allah a goodly loan- it will be multiplied for them, and they will have a noble reward.” (Al-Hadeed 57:18) Charity is a voluntary act done for the sake of Allah alone out of sincere love for Him.
In Ramadan, many of us would stay up in the nights and pray. We would give a lot of time to prayers and reciting Quran, and we must try our best to continue to do so. We must not abandon reciting Quran as soon as Ramadan ends. During Ramadan, everyone is willing to gather as many deeds as possible and most people make sure to complete the Quran, but once Ramadan passes by, do we still wish to complete it? We must still do good deeds to grow closer to Allah (SWT). We must continue to flourish this connection we found with Allah (SWT) and must not let it go.
It is time for us to reflect and wonder what type of life we are living. Are we making an effort to achieve the purpose of our existence, or are we just living to pass our time in this world? Every day of a Muslim should be better than his yesterday. It would be a great failure for us if we could not achieve taqwa in Ramadan to lead a better and virtuous life for the rest of the year. There is a good quote that says: “Poor is he who leaves Ramadan exactly the way he was before.”
May Allah guide us to follow His Commands and the teachings of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and Mahdi Maud (AHS) so we may always be on the Straight Path. Ameen.