Ramadhan Preparation #5 - Improve the QUALITY of Your Ibadah (Acts of Worship)

Think about this:

The Prophet Muhammad (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) said:

إنما بعثت لأتمم مكارم الأخلاق

“Verily, I have only been sent to perfect good character”

(Narrated in Muwatta of Malik)

The strong emphasis in the wordings used by the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) states this fact : the entire purpose of Islamic revelation – the Qur’an and the Sunnah – is for the overall perfection of individual character and mannerisms.

So the question is, why are Muslims today, those in fact who are praying, covering awrah, fasting, and so on, still guilty of so much sins, and evil deeds?

Why are our acts of worship having virtually no effect on the improvement of our character and akhlaq?

After all, hasn’t Allah stated as a FACT, that:

إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ

“Verily, As-Solah (the prayer) prevents from evil and wicked deeds” (Surah Al-Ankabut 29:45)

If we look deep enough into our own acts, we begin to realize, that the reason our acts of worship have virtually no effect into improving our character, because of the lousy quality in our acts of worship – especially our solah.

So let’s first ask ourselves this: What is the QUALITY of our solah?

·         Do we perform them  consistently with discipline, on time every time, knowing that prayer at its early time is the most beloved deed by Allah? (Al-Bukhari) Or do we constantly ‘reschedule’ or ‘delay’ it due to other tasks of lesser importance?

·         Do we – especially the men – pray in congregation, in the enthusiasm to seek the 27x multiple rewards which Allah has promised? (Al-Bukhari) Knowing that it is so important that it made the Prophet feel like burning the houses of those who did not attend the congregational prayer? (Muslim)

·         Do we put our full attention in prayer, knowing that this will be the very first act that will be judged by Allah on the Day of Judgment? (Tirmidzi) And that prayer in khushoo’ is the primary characteristic of the believers (Quran 23:1-2)?

·         Do we put effort to learn how to consciously perform prayer in the correct & proper manner, as taught in the many authentic hadith of the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam), knowing that he instructed us to Pray as you see me pray? (Al-Bukhari)

·         And most importantly, do we even understand what we are saying and what we are asking from Allah in our prayers? When the Prophet said that Allah does NOT answer prayers (du’aa) that comes from a heedless and inattentive heart? (Tirmidzi)

So if we are lacking in this simple aspects of quality prayer, how exactly do we expect our prayers to prevent us from evil and wickedness?

How will we expect our prayers to have an effect on us if we just do it ‘get it over and done with’?

Our fifth act of preparation in Ramadhan is to invest some serious conscious effort into improving the Quality of all our acts of Ibadah (worship) – especially our solah.

Ditch out the minimalist attitude of “at least I’m praying”.

The reality is, we’ll never support minimalist thinking at the workplace – What would you say about a person who comes to work late, spends hours on facebook & youtube, takes long smoke breaks, has no enthusiasm to perform, & is a toxic negative influence to the people around him?

Alah ok lahh… ‘at least he comes to work”?

No, we’d probably penalise him – in more ways that one.

So if that’s the case of a person at a JOB, why are we tolerating a minimalistic attitude the acts that we hope will save us on the Day of Judgment?

The Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) said: “Allah has prescribed (that you perform with) Ihsan (excellence) in all things.” (Narrated in Muslim)

Allah in fact tells us that the purpose of our entire existence is in fact, to test which one of us is “best” (i.e. most excellent) in deeds.

الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ

“[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed - and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving” (Surah Al-Mulk 67:2)

Pay attention to the wording here – it’s “ahsanu ‘amala” (most excellent in deeds), and not “aktharu ‘amala” (the most quantity of deeds).

So take some time to study all the good deeds you plan to do this Ramadhan, and how can you execute them in the best manner possible - the manner which is most pleasing to Allah is what is in line with the sunnah & teachings of the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam).

Here are some acts of ibadah which we suggest as a priority to improve quality on:

·         Solah

·         Fasting - learn the fiqh issues and all related to them - what is recommended, makruh, etc

·         Recitation of the Qur’an - improve the quality of your tajweed, your memorization, the understanding of it

·         Dzikir - learning and memorizing the most rewarding and most beloved types of dzikir to Allah, in accordance to what was taught by the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam)

And if we see a subconscious improvement in our behaviour and mannerisms, insha Allah that is a sign of Allah accepting our efforts to improve our deeds. Let’s aim for that improvement this Ramadhan.

May Allah make us steadfast and consistent in improving our acts of worship to seek His Pleasure - before, during and after Ramadhan - ameen!