Remaining steadfast after Ramadan?

by **Muji** Sun Oct 26, 2008 7:55 am

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WE leave the blessed month of Ramadan, its beautiful days and its fragrant
nights. We leave the month of the Qur’an, taqwa, patience, jihad,
mercy, forgiveness and freedom from hellfire...
Have we fulfilled the requirements of taqwa and graduated from the Ramadan school with the diploma of the god-fearing?
Have we fought our souls and desires and defeated them, or have we been overtaken by our customs and blind imitations?
Have we performed our actions in a way that fulfils the conditions for receiving mercy, forgiveness and release from the Fire?
Many questions and numerous thoughts come to the heart of the sincere Muslim, who asks and answers with truthfulness.
What Have We Gained From Ramadan?
Ramadan
is a school of iman and a ‘stop to recharge one’s spiritual batteries’
– to acquire one’s provision for the rest of the year...
For when will one take a lesson and change for better if not in the month of Ramadan?
The
noble month is a true school of transformation in which we change our
actions, habits and manners that are in variance with the Law of Allah
(subhanahu wa ta’ala). “Verily, Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.” [Ar-Ra’d, 11]
If
you are from those who benefited from Ramadan, fulfilled the
requirements of taqwa, truly fasted the month, prayed in it with
truthfulness, and strove against you soul, then praise and thank Allah,
and ask Him for steadfastness upon it until you meet your death.
Be
not like one who has sewn a shirt and then destroyed it... Have you
seen one who sewed a shirt or thawb, so when she looked at it, she
liked it. Then she destroyed it pulling a thread by thread for no
reason. What would people say about such a person?! Or have you seen
one who earns a fortune trading throughout the day, then when the night
comes, he throws away all that he earned, dirham by dirham. What would
people say about such a person?!
This is the condition of one who
returns to sinning and evildoing after Ramadan and leaves obedience and
righteous actions. So after he was favoured with the blessing of
obedience and enjoyment of communicating with Allah he returned to the
blaze of sins and evil actions. How evil are the people who know Allah
only in Ramadan!
My dear ones,
falling short in one’s commitment to Islam after Ramadan is manifested in many ways, including:
1
- Men leaving the five prayers in congregation, after they filled
mosques for Taraweeh prayers, thus going to the masjid for recommended
prayers and leaving obligatory ones.
2 - Return to musical
entertainment, forbidden films, women displaying their adornment beyond
that which ordinarily appears thereof, free mixing, etc.
This is not
thankfulness for blessings and favours, nor is it the sign of
acceptance of one’s actions, rather this is opposition to favours and
absence of thankfulness.
These are from signs of one’s deeds not
being accepted – and Allah’s refuge is sought – for one who truly fasts
rejoices on the occasion of Eid, praises his Lord for helping him
complete the fast, and remains fearful that Allah may not accept his
fasting, just as the Salaf would continue asking for acceptance of
their actions in Ramadan for six months after it.
From signs that
one’s deeds are accepted is that he or she has improved in his or her
obedience to Allah (‘azza wa jall). “And remember when your Lord
proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in
favor]...” [Ibrahim, 7] Increase you in good, faith and righteous
actions. So if the servant is truly thankful to his Lord, you will see
him guided to more obedience and distanced from sinfulness.
Thankfulness is leaving sins, as the early Muslims said.
“And worship your Lord until there comes you to the certainty [i.e. death].” [al-Hijr, 99]
The
Muslim must continuously be in the state of obedience of Allah, firm
upon His Shari’ah, steadfast upon His Deen, so that he or she is not of
those who worship Allah only during one month or only in one place.
Rather, the believer knows that the Lord of Ramadan is also the Lord of
other months, and that He is the Lord of all times and places, so he is
steadfast upon the Shari’ah of Allah until he meets Him while He is
pleased with him. Allah ta’ala said, “So remain on a right course as
you have been commanded, [you] and those who have turned back with you
[to Allah].” [Hud, 112] And, “So take a straight course to Him and seek His forgiveness.” [Fussilat, 6] And the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said, “Say ‘I believe in Allah’, then be steadfast.” [Muslim]
*
If the fasting in Ramadan has ended, then there remains voluntary
fasting, such as fasting six days in Shawwal, on Mondays and Thursdays,
the three days in the middle of the month, the days of ‘Aashoora and
‘Arafat, and others.
* If standing in prayer at night during Ramadan has ended, then there remains voluntary night prayer throughout the year. “They used to sleep but little of the night.” [Adh-Dhaariyaat, 17]
*
If the charity in Ramadan and Zakat ul-Fitr have ended, then there is
the obligatory Zakat, and also there are many other open doors to
charity, voluntary actions and jihad.
* Reading of the Qur’an and contemplating it is not only for Ramadan, rather it is for all times.
Righteous
actions are for all times and all places, so strive – O my brother and
sister – and beware of laziness. And remember that it is not allowed
for us to leave the obligatory actions or delay them, such as the five
daily prayers on time, in congregation, etc.
And do not fall into
forbidden actions, such as forbidden sayings, food and drinks, or by
looking at or listening to what is forbidden.
Be steadfast and
upright upon the Deen of Allah at all times, for you do not know when
you’ll meet the Angel of Death. Beware of him taking you while you are
in a state of sin. “O Allah, Who turns the hearts, keep our hearts
steadfast upon Your Deen.”
We ask Allah to accept from us and you
our fasting, our prayers and other righteous actions, that our
condition after Ramadan be a better one, that the state of our Ummah
improves, that we are granted honour and that we truly turn to our
Lord...Ameen[/size]

by **sweety** Tue Oct 28, 2008 7:04 am

AMEEN SOUM AMEEN Smile

Entertianment House !

Remaining steadfast after Ramadan?

Remaining steadfast after Ramadan?

Re: Remaining steadfast after Ramadan?