“Ya Allah, bless us in the month of Rejab and Sya’ban and let us pass the month of Ramadhan”.
Without realising that time past swiftly, we are on our way once again to meet the magnificent month of Ramadhan,
As Selman Al-Farsi (may Allah be pleased with him) had narrated: “The prophet (pbuh) addressed us on the last day of Sha’ban and said: “People, a great blessed month has come upon you, a month containing Laylat al-Qadr which is better than a thousand months. Allah has made fasting during it an obligation, and steadfastly observing its nights in worship a voluntary act. Whoever undertakes an act of obedience to Allah during this month with a righteous deed, it is as if he has performed an obligatory act at other times; and whoever performs an obligatory act during it is as one who performed seventy obligations at other times.
It is the month of patience, and the reward for patience is Paradise. It is the month of goodwill, during which provisions are multiplied. Whoever feeds a fasting person will be compensated with forgiveness of sins and salvation of his soul from Hell. He will also receive a reward equal to that of the person he feeds, without causing him any reduction (in his good deeds).” (The Companions) said: “Not all of us can find something to feed a fasting person.”
The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Allah gives this reward to whoever feeds a fasting person even with just a taste of milk or dates, or a drink of water. Whoever quenches the thirst of a fasting person, Allah the Almighty makes him drink from my pond such that he will never feel thirsty again until he enters Paradise. It is a month whose beginning is mercy, whose middle is forgiveness and whose end is emancipation from Hell.
Therefore display four characteristics to a greater extent; with two of which you will please your Lord, and two you cannot dispense with. The two with which you will please your Lord are to testify that there is no one deserving of worship except Allah, and to seek His forgiveness; whereas the two which you cannot dispense with are that you beseech Allah to place you in Paradise and that you seek refuge with Him from Hell.” [Related by Ibn Khuzaymah and AlBayhaqi].
I assumed you all would know better than me, I’m just rewriting the story again, because if you asked me, the narration is in our grasp and the story had been told over and over again, right?
But why, every time Ramadhan pays us a visit, people would try to revive back the miracles behind this fasting month?
Because human are naturally forgetful and with this can reanimate our heart from our deep forgettable,burn our evil desire and restrain from our oblivious manner...
Why do we fast? It is from the nature of humans to ask and to wonder why they do things. Muslims do things to please Allah, and they can please Allah only by obeying Him and practicing His religion. Thus, in answer to this question “Why do we fast?” we respond that it is a commandment and a clear order from Allah upon us and we have no other choice but to obey Allah and please Him out of Love and Fear at the same time.
Allah says what means:
“O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it has been prescribed for people before you so that you will (learn how to) attain Taqwa” (Qur’an, al-Baqarah:183)
Abu Umaamah (r.a.a.) said: I said: O Messenger of Allah, tell me of an action by which I may enter Paradise. He said: Take to Fasting, there is nothing like it. [An-Nasaa’ee, Ibn Hibbaan, Al-Haakim, Saheeh]
In this hadeeth, the Prophet (s.a.w.) singled out fasting when asked about a deed that leads its door to the best of rewards, Paradise. This fact alone is sufficient for us to understand the greatness of fasting. Mere knowledge of the importance and superiority of fasting, however, is not enough for a Muslim to attain Allah’s pleasure and then, insya Allah, His great reward.
I believe if we talk about Ramadhan, the story would never end, right? but what I like to highlight here is how you perform it, my friend..
No matter how much time you have met this month of bless, but how much you can considered as fully blessed? Any changes after it?
We can’t denied that every time we felt that we have rejuvenate ourselves, we sometimes would accidentally into our past behaviour or worst without any guilt. But that is not the point for us not to try to vary ourselves, it is the point of believe in ourselves that we can do it.Thus,Ramadhan is the best month to straighten our soul in restoring back our Iman.
Indeed, the Prophet (s.a.w.) has said:
“Perhaps a person fasting will receive nothing from his fasting except hunger and thirst.” [Ibn Maajah, Ad-Daarimee, Ahmad, al-Baihaqee, Saheeh]
But actually this hadeeth should raise our concern about fasting and increase our desire to perform this act of worship with the best intention and in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet (s.a.w.). The first step is for a Muslim to realize that Allah has prescribed fasting as a means of gaining Taqwa.
Allah (swt) has also informed us that it is taqwa that distinguishes people in the His sight.
Didn’t we want to be the person whom ALLAH honoured?
Allah says:
“The most honoured by Allah amongst you are those best in taqwaa.” [Al-Hujurat:13]
Ali ibn Abi Taalib was asked about the definition of taqwa, to which he answered:
“[It is] Fear of the All-Mighty, acting upon the revelation, preparation for the day of travel [when we meet Allah], and contentment with a small amount.”
Ramadhan will come.
Hopefully, despite all the challenges, we were all able to achieve something. Even if it wasn’t much, but at the very least, we all must have gained something, Insya Allah.
After all, all those fasts, prayers, and recitation of Quran weren’t just for nothing. Allah (SWT) says in the Holy Quran:
“…verily Allah will not suffer the reward of the righteous to perish.” (Quran; Hud:115)
Welcome Ya RAMADHAN....we cherish you most!!!
