by Faeezah Adams
What is a Believer’s Ramadan? And who is a believer?
And not just a believer but the believers among those who are successful. Allah ta’ala himself expounds upon the virtues of a successful believer in the Quran. In Surah Al Mu’minoon, Allah says:
“They who are during their prayer humbly submissive.” (23:2) “And they who turn away from ill speech.” (23:3)
“And they who are observant of Zakah.” (23:4) “And they who guard their private parts.” (23:5)
“And they who are to their trusts and their promises attentive.” (23:8) “And they who carefully maintain their prayers” (23:9)
“And they who carefully maintain their prayers” (23:9)
Thus, has Allah set the criteria for those who are seeking success. And if we know anything about the success we know that it comes after many sincere attempts that have all too often ended in failure. We require a resilient nature to achieve this success. More importantly, the believing slaves need Allah’s help with attaining this success as we do in every aspect of our lives. So how does Allah help his slave?
ENTER Ramadan,
A month wherein our enemy is chained, powerless to persuade us against what is right. This month that is made for strengthening a believer’s resolve to do good deeds.
How many mornings have we lamented over missing the night prayer? How many times have we procrastinated reading Allah’s book? How sincere are we in our fasting during this month – a deed that Allah promises to reward in multitudes as He sees fit? How many times have we prayed an Eid Salah thinking that we could have and should have done more during the blessed month of Ramadan? Too many. How then do we grab hold of the help that Allah offers us during this special month? How do we become of those who are successful? We do as Allah has ordered us to do in the Quran:
“Oh you who believe, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous” (2:183)
By fasting we take full advantage of a Shaytaan free time and space. We TRY our best as weak slaves to worship Allah in the best manner. To correct our bad habits and to realize that all of it – the effort and the deprivation and the exertion upon us in our ibadah during this month is all practice which strengthens us against the whisperings of Shaytaan and the lure of the nafs after Ramadan. A month in which we attempt to fortify ourselves against Shaytaan for the coming months. A month in which we attempt to make lasting changes. A month wherein all our attempts are successful. Bi’idhnillahi Ta’ala. This is the
A month in which we attempt to fortify ourselves against Shaytaan for the coming months. A month in which we attempt to make lasting changes. A month wherein all our attempts are successful. Bi’idhnillahi Ta’ala. This is the Believer’s Ramadan.
Abu Huraira (RA) narrates: “I heard Allah’s Messenger (saw) saying regarding Ramadan, ‘Whoever prayed at night in it (the month of Ramadan) out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.’” {Al Bukhari}
So the believers dig in their heels and are resolute in seeking the pleasure of Allah; night after night in exertion; worship after worship, remembrance of Allah on the tongue and in the heart so that The Believer’s Ramadan does not end when the moon is sighted for Shawaal because it is a month of preparation for ultimate and lasting success.
“Those are the inheritors. Who will inherit Al Firdous. They will abide therein eternally.” (23:10-11)
Want to boost your Ramadan with more iman-boosting reflections? Don’t forget to check out AlKauthar online course, A Believer’s Ramadan, a new & inspiring Ramadan program that will help you to have the best Ramadan of your life.
Get a daily reminder by Sheikh Bilal Ismail, that will reflect on making the most of that particular day of Ramadan. You will go day by day with a focus on how to make the most of it and please Allah the most. Visit http://online.alkauthar.org for more info!
May this month of Ramadan be full of blessings, forgiveness, and guidance for all of us. InshaaAllah
