Ramadhan - A Time for Change

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying:

“When there comes the month of Ramadhan, the gates of mercy are opened, and the gates of Hell are locked and the devils are chained”

(Sahih Muslim, Book #006, Hadith #2361)

With the devils amongst the unseen being chained and locked up, all external disturbances are pacified, all excuses deemed futile - and the only thing that stands between you and “a better you” is : YOU!

And with the gates of Allah’s rahmah (mercy) being opened, He makes it easier for us to receive His tawfeeq - provided we put in the effort.

So the important question we want to ask ourselves is: what RESOLUTIONS have we set for ourselves this Ramadhan?

What tangible targets have we set in sincere hopes of a permanent step towards a better “me”? What goals have we set to earn the pleasure of Allah?

What hujjah (evidence) are we going to consciously build upon in our Book Deeds that we hope we can use as a ‘selling point’ to Allah on the Day of Judgment to propel us forward in hopes of His mercy?

Just like we prepare bullet points for our company annual appraisal, have we prepared and worked towards our personal bullet points for the appraisal of our life?

Perhaps your goals could consist of one, or more of the following?

- Praying in congregation @ masjid every day for all 5 daily prayers? Or at least start with the most important 2 - Isha and Subuh/Fajr?

- Quit smoking, realizing that your body & lungs are also an amanah from Allah & be thankful for those great gifts?

- Abandon gossipping, backbiting, slandering so we don’t lay our good deeds to waste?

- Helping your brothers and sisters in need? In cash and kind!

- Tying our ties of kinship with friends/family?

- Consistently praying more nafl (extra superogatory prayers) - especially Qiamul-layll (night prayers)?

- Filling up our free time - especially while commuting to work - with Qur’an and/or dzikir, instead of the tabloids/newspapers?

- Reminding our family members to acts of good and/or to quit evil deeds?

- … (insert your resolution here)

No, we are not just talking about once-off deeds that we abandon as soon as the clock ticks Shawwal - we are talking about sustainable deeds that will stick with us to carry us that extra step ahead towards Jannah.

As the scholars have pointed out, one of the signs that our deeds in Ramadhan were accepted are that there is a continuous positive change in ourselves.

Know, dear brother, dear sister, that every bit of effort you do for His sake, will never go to waste

“Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - indeed, We will not allow to be lost the reward of any who did well in deeds.”

(Surah Al-Kahf: 30)

And if you are amongst the mistaken people who “wait until the hidayah of Allah shines upon my heart” - here’s the reality check: it’s not going to happen, because

“Verily, Allah will not change the state of the people until they change what is in themselves” (Ar-Ra’d 13:11)

So, set your targets, have conviction upon it, and ready yourselves as we race towards the Mercy and Forgiveness of Allah this Ramadhan and beyond. See you at the top - insha Allah!

And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous

(Surah Al-‘Imran 3:133)

“If Islam preaches good character, why are Muslims around us full of bad behavior?”

“If Islam preaches good character, why are Muslims around us full of bad behavior?”

As much as it pains us to hear these statements, we cannot hide from this criticism lingering in the heads of the non-Muslims – and perhaps even Muslims – around us.

As the attacks get heavier, our defensive mechanisms start to appear and take the form of the words of “Brother, you need to judge Islam, not Muslims.”

Isn’t it sad that we have to justify it with those words?

In the time of the sahabah, as they entered new lands – as people marveled at the loftiness of their morals in addition to their courage and moral integrity – people would race to them, in awe -  and ask them “I want to become Muslim. Teach me how to be like you”. The righteous people of the past carried the banner of Islam by their actions, not by their words.

“Judge Islam by Islam itself, not by the Muslims”

The utterance of these words reveal an undeniable ugly truth in our closets – Muslims today are not walking the talk. The same people who have accessed to the Book that commands :

“O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do?! Most hateful it is with Allah that you say that which you do not do!” (Surah As-Saf 62:2-3)

““Enjoin you righteousness on the people and you forget (to practise it) yourselves, while you recite the Scripture! Have you then no sense?” (Quran Chapter Al-Baqarah 2: Verse 44)

And here we are, we say, “Judge Islam, by Islam, not by Muslims”

How abysmal is this statement, O followers of Muhammad sallAllahualayhi wa sallam? The acknowledgement of this statement leads to the inevitable admission that “Muslims are not following Islam”.

We talk of integrity, but the question is this: How can we aspire to be people of integrity if we can’t live by the principles we claim we follow? Or worse yet, how about those who don’t even bother to KNOW what these principles are?

Do we not know that our Prophet – whom we call claim to follow and love – had said:

“Verily, I have only been sent to perfect good morals and character” (narrated in Muwatta of Malik)

Have we lost the plot, O followers of Muhammad? Have we forgotten that the Message of Islam – in its entirety, with its obligations and prohibitions – is for the refinement of perfection in character?

So let’s walk the talk. We have a purpose in life, so let’s live like we do.  

Learn the Qur’an, learn the sunnah, implement them and teach others: love for others, what you love for yourself: a life of integrity and purpose, guided by the Almighty, to seek His Pleasure.

You’ve got one shot at life. Forget “the others” and “what will they say about me?!”.

Change begins with Me and You. Right here, right now.

“Verily! Allah will not change the good condition of a people as long as they do not change their state of goodness themselves” (Surah Ar-Ra’d 13:11)