Ramadhan thoughts 2012 (1433H)

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Dispenser of Grace.

How time flies!  Before you know it, Eid Al-Fitr is looming ever nearer and the time of blessing is slipping away. In fact, today is the last day of Ramadhan (30/09 of the Islamic year 1433H) and tomorrow will be Eid.

Taqabballah minna wa min kum.  (May Allah accepts from us and from you (our good deeds)).  This past month, the month of Ramadhan, is a month where most Muslims increase their levels of good deeds - prayers, reading the Qur'an, charity etc.  Yet, no matter how much I do, I feel so inadequate in reaping the Rahmah (mercy) and Barakah (blessings) of this month.  But I bear this one point in mind - it is not on my own deeds that I would be protected from His Wrath and punishment of Hell nor that I would be granted His pleasure and entrance to Paradise but only through His Mercy...His Mercy that overlook His servant's shortcomings and His Mercy that rewards by many folds His servant's good deeds.  I therefore supplicate to the Most Merciful that we all will be counted amongst those who are ever grateful.

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said: “He is successful who has accepted Islam, who has been provided with sufficient for his wants and been made contented by Allah with what He has given him.” [Muslim]

At the end of this blessed month, I'm sure all of us are hoping that we have changed and that we come out of Ramadhan successful.  The above hadith came on my phone's app and it seemed so appropriate for the occasion.  In Ramadhan, I learn to make do with what is there at iftar (breaking fast) and sahur (pre-dawn meal) after experiencing the "deprivation" of the senses and I learn to appreciate just how sufficiently we've been provided by Allah.  This year, I am thankful for the food my landlady cooked and those that my neighbours and her friends gave us for iftar.  After working the whole day, being invited for iftar at various friends' places, it seems to be God-sent.  There always seems to be more than enough food, friendship and bonding around.  My Muslim community here in Edinburgh seemed to be blessed with more than what we need.

More than that, I realise that for many of us, especially myself, we've been given with so much.  There isn't a day that I go to bed without food in the fridge, clothes in the wardrobe, roof over my head, savings in the bank, safety and security of a peaceful neighbourhood and care and love of my family and friends.  This Ramadhan, I thought about the refuges all over the world without roof over their heads, the poor with not even a cent/penny to their name, the oppressed without the safety and security, and the people from all walks of life who have lost their love ones.  How can I not feel grateful?  Should I not feel contented even more so than the people list above?  

Most of all, Allah has allowed us to have the opportunity to meet and finish this Ramadhan with our faith strengthened when there are those who have fallen on the way side.  May Allah count us amongst those who are ever grateful.

What is a more beautiful of Allah's mercy to His servants than Ramadhan:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيۡڪُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِڪُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَّقُونَ (١٨٣)أَيَّامً۬ا مَّعۡدُودَٲتٍ۬‌ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوۡ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ۬ فَعِدَّةٌ۬ مِّنۡ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ‌ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ ۥ فِدۡيَةٌ۬ طَعَامُ مِسۡكِينٍ۬‌ۖ فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيۡرً۬ا فَهُوَ خَيۡرٌ۬ لَّهُ ۥ‌ۚ وَأَن تَصُومُواْ خَيۡرٌ۬ لَّڪُمۡ‌ۖ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ (١٨٤) شَہۡرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانُ هُدً۬ى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـٰتٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡهُدَىٰ وَٱلۡفُرۡقَانِ‌ۚ فَمَن شَہِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّہۡرَ فَلۡيَصُمۡهُ‌ۖ وَمَن ڪَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوۡ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ۬ فَعِدَّةٌ۬ مِّنۡ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ‌ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِڪُمُ ٱلۡيُسۡرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِڪُمُ ٱلۡعُسۡرَ وَلِتُڪۡمِلُواْ ٱلۡعِدَّةَ وَلِتُڪَبِّرُواْ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَٮٰكُمۡ وَلَعَلَّڪُمۡ تَشۡكُرُونَ (١٨٥) وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ‌ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعۡوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ‌ۖ فَلۡيَسۡتَجِيبُواْ لِى وَلۡيُؤۡمِنُواْ بِى لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡشُدُونَ (١٨٦)أُحِلَّ لَڪُمۡ لَيۡلَةَ ٱلصِّيَامِ ٱلرَّفَثُ إِلَىٰ نِسَآٮِٕكُمۡ‌ۚ هُنَّ لِبَاسٌ۬ لَّكُمۡ وَأَنتُمۡ لِبَاسٌ۬ لَّهُنَّ‌ۗ عَلِمَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّڪُمۡ كُنتُمۡ تَخۡتَانُونَ أَنفُسَڪُمۡ فَتَابَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَعَفَا عَنكُمۡ‌ۖ فَٱلۡـَٔـٰنَ بَـٰشِرُوهُنَّ وَٱبۡتَغُواْ مَا ڪَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡ‌ۚ وَكُلُواْ وَٱشۡرَبُواْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡخَيۡطُ ٱلۡأَبۡيَضُ مِنَ ٱلۡخَيۡطِ ٱلۡأَسۡوَدِ مِنَ ٱلۡفَجۡرِ‌ۖ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّواْ ٱلصِّيَامَ إِلَى ٱلَّيۡلِ‌ۚ وَلَا تُبَـٰشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنتُمۡ عَـٰكِفُونَ فِى ٱلۡمَسَـٰجِدِ‌ۗ تِلۡكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَقۡرَبُوهَا‌ۗ كَذَٲلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَّقُونَ (١٨٧)

O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that ye may ward off (evil); (183) (Fast) a certain number of days; and (for) him who is sick among you, or on a journey, (the same) number of other days; and for those who can afford it there is a ransom: the feeding of a man in need - but whoso doeth good of his own accord, it is better for him: and that ye fast is better for you if ye did but know - (184) The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, (let him fast the same) number of other days. Allah desireth for you ease; He desireth not hardship for you; and (He desireth) that ye should complete the period, and that ye should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that peradventure ye may be thankful. (185) And when My servants question thee concerning Me, then surely I am nigh. I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he crieth unto Me. So let them hear My call and let them trust in Me, in order that they may be led aright. (186) It is made lawful for you to go unto your wives on the night of the fast. They are raiment for you and ye are raiment for them. Allah is Aware that ye were deceiving yourselves in this respect and He hath turned in mercy toward you and relieved you. So hold intercourse with them and seek that which Allah hath ordained for you, and eat and drink until the white thread becometh distinct to you from the black thread of the dawn. Then strictly observe the fast till nightfall and touch them not, but be at your devotions in the mosques. These are the limits imposed by Allah, so approach them not. Thus Allah expoundeth His revelation to mankind that they may ward off (evil). (187) 

Amidst the verses on fasting in Surah Al-Baqarah is a gem, i.e. that of supplication to Allah.  I have to ask myself why Allah has included this verse amongst the verses on fasting.  What is the wisdom behind this inclusion?  Again, this is a gift from Allah in this blessed month...that it is not only a month of fasting and deprivation but also a month that we turn to Him for all of our needs.  Sayyid Qutb puts it beautifully:

How kind and compassionate God truly is! Any hardship encountered in keeping
the fast fades in comparison with this friendly and gentle reassurance. The choice of
words creates an atmosphere of intimacy and accessibility, with God Himself stating
a direct contact between Him and His servants. He does not give instructions to His
Messenger, the Prophet Muĥammad on how to answer believers’ questions about
Him. He gives the answer Himself: “I am near.” His closeness is not only to listen but
also for immediate response: “I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he calls to Me.”
(Verse 186)
This verse fills a believer’s heart with love, confidence and utter reassurance. In
this atmosphere of friendliness and compassion, God, who has no need for anyone,
directs believers to respond to Him and believe in Him, in the hope that this will
guide them to wisdom and righteousness. “Let them then respond to Me, and believe in
Me, so that they may follow the right way.” (Verse 186) By earning God’s generosity and
guidance, believers end up winners on all counts.

A month where our needs are fulfilled whenever we turn to Him, whereby there were so many opportunities and great occasions for us to supplicate with the whole of our hearts and know that He will not refuse our supplication:

Salmān, the Persian, a Companion of the Prophet, quotes the Prophet as saying: “God would not like to see His servant holding out his arms pleading for help and turn him away empty handed.” [Related by Abū Dāwūd, al-Tirmidhī and Ibn Mājah]

Again, I ask myself - how can I not be amongst those who are grateful...how can my heart be hardened towards the One who Reaches Out.  I think if there is one thing I take away from this Ramadhan, it is to be grateful for everything in my life. 

But how do a servant show his/her gratitude to One who is the Self-Sufficient?  That is a question that the Qur'an answers in myriad of ways and is a topic for another entry in this blog, insya Allah.

Eid Mubarak to all my Muslim family and friends!