Don't slip into a part-time 'abd of Allah'.
Seize the last moments of Ramadan.
Today is the last Friday of this blessed month of Ramadan. How are we feeling about our Ramadan? Are we satisfied, or do we think we could have done more? Did we already give up and think that in sha Allah, next Ramadan!
This is the time to reflect on our journey and make the most out of these final moments of this blessed month.
Ramadan is a marathon, not a sprint.
Did you ever watch how an athlete runs in a marathon? especially the final moments. They give their everything irrespective of their position, energy level, etc. That is their last chance to create a difference on the field.
Isn’t it our time to sprint? no matter how we did so far? But where should we run towards?
Flee to Allah…………
(Quran 51:50)
When someone flees, they run away from something. What shall we run away from?
Allah SWT made fasting compulsory on us for a purpose, as He says :
O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those before you—so perhaps you will become mindful of Allah.
(Quran 2:183)
The purpose of fasting is to build up on our taqwa. A beautiful definition of taqwa is in a conversation between Umar ibn Khattab (r.a) and Ubayy ibn Ka’b (r.a).
“It was reported that ‘Umar ibn Khattab (r.a) asked Ubayy ibn Ka’b (r.a) about Taqwa. In reply, Ka’b (r.a) asked ‘Umar (r.a), “O Leader of the believers, what do you do when you have to pass through a thorny road?” ‘Umar (r.a) replied, “I lift my cloth up to my calves and watch my footsteps and take each step slowly from the fear of thorns lest they don’t prick me”. Ka’b (r.a) said, “This is Taqwa.”
Taqwa is about protecting us from anything that harms us in our journey to Allah SWT. Are we feeling the nearness of Allah SWT?
Allah Says:
Indeed, We (Allah SWT) created humankind and fully know what their souls whisper to them, and We (Allah SWT) are closer to them than their jugular vein.
(Quran 50:16)
Jugular veins are the major blood vessels located at the neck and transport blood from the brain to the chest. Allah SWT is closer to us than our Jugular vein!
Allah SWT is always closer to us than anything else. But it is we who forget this fact. The world is intentionally designed and operated predominantly to make us forget the nearness of Allah SWT. So it is important to protect us from these distractions and remain conscious of Allah SWT. That is taqwa. Ramadan is a blessing from Allah SWT when He allows us to build up our taqwa in a safer and inspiring environment.
In Ramadan, Allah SWT showed us our true potential to worship him full-time as believers. Throughout the month, we wake up before fajr, pray thahajjud, have suhur, fast the whole day, pray all mandatory plus extra prayers, break the fast for Allah SWT, and immediately go for the night prayers until bed!
Now the question is: Are we already slipping? Are we moving to the part-time worship mode of connecting to Allahu SWT only at the leftover time after our busy day?
Allah Says:
I did not create jinn and humans except to worship Me.
(Quran 51:56)
How we make sure that we protect our heart and soul, purified by attaining taqwa in this blessed month? How do we keep nurturing it beyond Ramadan?
Go back to full-time worship mode!
Work at your job for Allahu (SWT), not for your boss.
Take care of your family for Allahu SWT.
Take care of yourself for Allahu SWT.
Connect to your friends for Allahu SWT.
Yes, bring taqwa into everything that we do and across our life roles.
….Surely in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find comfort.
(Quran 13:28)
This will help us find more balance and contentment across your life roles. This will help us to lead a life with purpose and higher motivation to fulfil our roles to win this world and the Next.
If you take this as your mission to continue working post-Ramadan, join us in our masterclass: “TaQwa Habits: The Key to Life Balance”. In this interactive program, you will be trained to manage your energy, focus, and time for the sake of Allahu SWT while fulfilling your core responsibilities.
In sha Allah, let us not leave any moment pass by without converting it into a service to Allah SWT. Moments matter!
Create taqwa moments
In these last days of Ramadan, pledge to yourself to gain the pleasure of Allahu SWT at each moment in your life. Among those who receive Allah's shade on the Day of Judgment, three are recognized for their taqwa in a brief moment:
A man who is tempted by a beautiful woman of high status but he rejects her, saying , ‘I fear Allah,’.
One who spends in charity and hides it such that his right hand does not know what his left hand has given.
One who remembered Allah in private and he wept.
SubhanAllah. Every moment counts! Numerous stories were narrated by Prophet Muhammed (ﷺ) about people who earned Jannah for a moment of act with pure heart (with taqwa). In sha Allah, that will be on another Friday.
Every moment counts! Let’s transform every opportunity into an act of worship for Allah SWT, both personally and professionally. Join us on this mission, which starts again on May 17, 2025.
May Allah SWT accept our good deeds and forgive all our shortcomings and previous sins.
Sincere Duáas
Haneef