Ramadan is nearby! What does it mean for us?
We have an active role to play in this Ramadan.
Salaam everyone,
Are you excited for Ramadan 1446H? Or are you busy with your daily life? Give me a few minutes, and read this post. In sha Allah, I hope this will reset all of us back to our true selves, especially when we are a few days away from the blessed month of Ramadan.
Why do we fast in the month of Ramadan?
Allah says
O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those before you—so perhaps you will become mindful of Allah.
(Quran 2:182)
Allah SWT asks us to manage our bodies for a month and aim for the spiritual development of attaining Taqwa (mindfulness of Allah SWT). During fasting, Muslims abstain from otherwise halal needs of the body (food, drinks, intimacy, etc..) from Fajr (pre-dawn) prayer until Maghrib (sunset) prayer.
Why in the above verse, Allah says perhaps you become mindful..? Allah SWT knows the best. That indicates that not everyone who engages in fasting becomes people of TaQwa.
This sheds light on the ‘free will’ of human beings, as compared to other creations of Allah SWT. Allah has given us the free will to choose. We may choose to fast or not. Set the intention of fasting purely for Allah SWT or other worldly gains. Fast only by abstaining from food/drinks or staying away from anything that displeases Allah SWT. Each of these choices has its consequences, and we will be held accountable for these choices, in the hereafter. May Allah guide us and keep us steadfast.
Why TaQwa is important?
For a moment, let us forget about all our titles, in our profession, family, and in our social circles. Then who are we at the very basic level? A human being. Where we come from? Allah SWT. Where will we return to? Allah SWT. Why are we here in this world?...
We need Allah SWT..
To See
To Listen
To Breath
To Move
To Talk
....................................................................
We need Allah SWT.
For Guidance
For Forgiveness
For Sustenance
For Contentment
For Cure
For Finding our purpose.
.....................................................................
We need Him at every second of our life in this world! Does He need us?
Allah says:
O humanity! It is you who stand in need of Allah, but Allah is the Self-Sufficient, Praiseworthy.
(Quran 35:15)
Allah does not need anything from us. But we need Allah SWT every moment of our life!
Have you ever felt that it is too hard to approach an official /ruler/ judge/business owner.. in this world? But, Allah SWT, the Lord of all the worlds, the almighty, the Self-sufficient, the most-Merciful.. allows us to get closer to him at any moment of our life! Isn’t that the greatest blessing we have?
Allah says..
Call upon Me, and I will respond to you. (Quran 40:60)
Seek your Lord’s forgiveness, for He is truly Most Forgiving.(Quran 71:10)
When My servants ask you about Me: I am truly near. I respond to one’s prayer when they call upon Me. So let them respond to Me and believe in Me, perhaps they will be guided. (Quran 2:186)
Therefore, Ramadan is when we need to actively make choices that please Allah SWT, and get us closer to him in every blessed moment of it. May Allah make us among the people who attain Taqwa in this holy month.
What choices are you planning to make? What is the one thing that you would like to change or add to your daily habit, that pleases Allah SWT? What is your Ramadan project for yourself and others? Please share them in the comments.
At TaQwa Minds, I intend to release the Ramadan project to help all of us in our journey towards Allah SWT by making active choices daily in Ramadan. Stay tuned. In sha Allah. May Allah guide us in this project, and accept from all of us.
Share this with your family, friends, and others who want to benefit from the upcoming Ramadan series. Jazakallahu khairan. May Allah grant us this Ramadan, and guide us to make the most out of it.
Sincere Duáas
Haneef