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» What next after the month of Ramadan - By Shaykh Ashraf Salah
What next after the month of Ramadan - By Shaykh Ashraf Salah
What next after the month of Ramadanthe month of
Ramadan
By Shaykh Ashraf Salah
Dear Muslims:
How fast are the days and nights pass!
Such is the nature of this infinite world. It does not stay on one condition.
That is the Law of Allah on His creature. Everything moves according to its
appointed time. This reality is recognized by people of understanding and
reason. They as a result, take lessons from that. Allah (SWT) says, “Verily, in
the creation of the heavens and the earth and in the alternation of night and
day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding.” (Aal-Imran: 190).
Ramadan will soon end as it is an
itinerant guest. Alas, Ramadan will go while some people have gained profits
thereof and others have incurred loss. Ramadan will go and with it will go our
deeds. Let him who has done good deeds during Ramadan continue on the same path
and let him who has been negligent endeavour to end his life with good deeds
for acts are judged according to their ends.
May the peace of Allah be upon the month
of fasting and night prayers! May the peace of Allah be upon the month of the
Qur’an and the remembrance of Allah! It has passed like the twinkling of an
eye, yet while it was here it was an arena for those who race to do good deeds.
Dear Muslims:
Islamic religion entails lofty and
unparalleled meanings and aims and among the major aims of fasting is that it
is a means of attaining piety in all its forms. So learn from your fasting
strong will to do good deeds, refine your character and reform yourself
inwardly and outwardly. Endeavour to rectify what has been damaged and
strengthen what has weakened.
There are many verses in the Glorious
Qur’an that call to uprightness in good deeds and firmness on the true
guidance. Allah (SWT) says, “So stand you firm and straight (on the religion of
Islamic monotheism) as you are commanded and those (your companions) who turn
in repentance (unto Allah) with you and transgress not Allah’s legal limits.”
(Hood: 112).
This is the divine admonition addressed
to individuals and societies that includes standing firm on the teachings of
Islam, abiding by its limits and obeying its laws. Then listen to the Prophet’s
admonition in this regard: A Bedouin man asked the Messenger of Allah: “Tell me
a word in Islam, which I will have no need to ask any other person after you.”
The Messenger of Allah answered “Say: I believe in Allah and stand firm on that.”
This is an admonition that guarantees a satisfying life for the Muslim nation
and is capable of actualising an eternal happiness for them. Allah (SWT) says,
“Verily, those who say our Lord is (only) Allah
and thereafter stand firm and straight (on the Islamic faith of
monotheism), on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve. Such shall be the
dwellers of Paradise , abiding therein
(forever) a reward for what they used to do.” (Al-Ahqaf: 13 – 14).
Dear Brothers And Sisters In Islam:
The fear of straying away from the right
path was the main concern of the people of proper understanding and the way of
those with sound minds and those firmly grounded in knowledge, those who desire
for themselves means of access to their Lord, fear His punishment and hope for
His mercy. Allah mentioned in the Qur’an how they supplicate and ask His help
to remain steadfast and keep away from deviation as in the verse, which means,
“It is He, Who has sent down to you the Book. In it are Verses that are
entirely clear, they are the foundations of the Book (verses including
commandments and penal laws); and others not entirely clear. So as for those on
whose hearts there is a deviation they follow that which is not entirely clear
thereof, seeking trials and seeking its hidden meanings, but none knows its
hidden meanings except Allah. And those who are firmly grounded in knowledge
say, ‘We believe in it, the whole of it is from our Lord’. And none receive
admonition except men of understanding. (They say) Our Lord! Let not our hearts
deviate after You have guided us, and grant us from Your Mercy. Truly, You are
the Bestower” (Aal ‘Imran: 7-8).
Dear Muslims:
This supplication which reflects humility
and humbleness to Allah, was the supplication of the best of creation, our
Prophet (PBUH). Uttering this supplication is an indication of perfect
imitation of the Prophet (PBUH), as ‘Um Salamah, (RAA), said, ‘The Prophet
(PBUH) used to repeatedly say this supplication, “O Controller of the hearts!
Make my heart steadfast upon Your religion” so I asked him, ‘O Prophet of
Allah! Do hearts fluctuate?’ He said, “Yes, all mankind’s hearts are between
two of the fingers of Allah. If Allah wills He maintains a man’s steadfastness,
and if He wills He deviates him” (Ahmad & Tirmithi).
Likewise, in the narration of Anas (RAA) he
said, ‘The Prophet (PBUH) used to repeatedly say, “O Controller of the hearts!
Make my heart steadfast upon Your religion” so I said to him, ‘O Prophet of
Allah! We believed in you and in what you came with; do you fear that we may
deviate?’ He said, “Yes, all mankind’s hearts are between two of the fingers of
Allah. He changes them as He pleases” (Tirmithi & Ibn Maajah).
Dear Muslims:
If the Prophet (PBUH) feared a change of
heart of those who were the cream of Muslims, the pioneers of Islam, the ones
firmly grounded in faith, with strong certainty in Allah and sincere servitude
to Him and are the best of all generations, as the Prophet informed us; if this
fear was regarding those people, then how would the case be concerning those
who came after them, especially people in our era? This era during which trials
are plentiful and successive; falsehood has spread everywhere under decorated
banners; doubts and desires attacked people’s hearts; misguiding temptations
have attacked people through what they see, read and hear; and deviant ways
have become strong and taken control over people’s minds and hearts.
Further, innovations have spread among
other Muslims, and new practices, which are not a part of Islam, have been added
to it. In some cases, their traditions and customs have been made a part of
Islam, as well as acts of worship, which have no basis in our religion, have
been invented, through which they hope to come closer to Allah and gain His
reward.
Dear Muslimls:
Our righteous predecessors used to exert
maximum effort in perfecting their acts of worship and had grave concerns
regarding their acceptance or rejection. ‘Ali Ibn Abi Taalib warned: “Have a
greater concern for the acceptance of your deeds than you do for the amount of
deeds you have performed. Do not you hear the saying of Allah: ‘Indeed, Allah
accepts only from the righteous” (Al Ma’idah: 27).
O Allah! have mercy on us all, help us to
be always steadfast on obedience, bless and forgive us all (Ameen).
