Sweetener of faith
Serenity entrances our hearts in the blessed month of Ramaḍān. It feels as though our īmān (faith) will never waver, that we’ll never sin again, that our love for Allāh سبحانه وتعالى is hallucinating - the only focus in life. We feel He sees us, as though we’re standing directly before Him. We desire that our soul be released, carefully, from the whims of the dunya (world) and that we may be lifted to meet Him. We long for a beautiful ending - a meeting of nobility. The sheer love is unlike any other, pure and consuming. Once this soul-gripping month departs, a state of melancholy falls over us, yet we clench onto the rope of faith, until the favour reappears, flickering its radiance over the shadow of our sins. How blessed are we to be gifted a month such like it? To spend nights in solitude, calling out for His love and mercy, begging for His pardon. To gather in congregation, nightly, only to please Him. To share rizq (sustenance) between one another, increasing the brotherhood and unity. To humbly spend on those less fortunate, so much so, that the left hand does not know what the right hand has given. To shed pearly tears as we call out to Him. To be the Ummah of Muḥammad ﷺ, who have been offered this favour, over the ʿĀlamīn (worlds). The blessing is unfathomable, incomparable, one that we cannot truly express our gratitude for. Not even art or literature can encapsulate the ambience of Ramaḍān in its true light.
Ramaḍān is a guest so we must treat it with honour.
This can be done in 3 ways:
1. Abstain from sin - if you want to obtain proximity to Allāh سبحانه وتعالى, become a friend of Allāh سبحانه وتعالى by leaving sin, with the intention of never returning to it. This can be attained in 3 ways: 1) Be conscious of Allāh سبحانه وتعالى all the time - engage in His remembrance at all times (increase dhikr) so you will be less likely to commit sin 2) Leave the means of sin - don’t go near things which lead you to sin e.g. if music is your weakness don’t carry your headphones around with you. 3) Ask Allāh سبحانه وتعالى to help you. Duʿā is our most powerful tool. Converse with Him as your friend.
2. Fulfill your farāʾiḍ (obligatory commands)- In Ramaḍān we fulfill 4/5 pillars (1) shahādah-always in state of īmān, 2) ṣalāh- ensure you have no outstanding ṣalāh & pray correctly and on time. 3) ṣawm (fasting) - know the rulings regarding fasting and abstain from lying and backbiting 4) zakāh (if you usually give zakāh in Ramaḍān). Ensure each farḍ is performed as best as can be, with pure and sincere intentions.
3. Carry out additional deeds. This is the month of qurʾān so increase your recitation, do constant dhikr, give ṣadaqah (charity) regularly, pray nafl prayers, wake up for tahajjud, help others and smile etc.
It’s a month where we should tie ourselves to the Qurʾān, connect with it so deeply that once Ramaḍān passes we have embodied it.
عن قتادة قُلْتُ لعائشة يَا أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْبِئِينِي عَنْ خُلُقِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَتْ أَلَسْتَ تَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَتْ فَإِنَّ خُلُقَ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ الْقُرْآنَ
Qatādah reported: I said to ʿĀishah رضي الله عنها, “O mother of the believers, tell me about the character of the Messenger of Allāh.”
ʿĀishah رضي الله عنها said, “Have you not read the Qur’ān?” I said, “Of course.” ʿĀishah رضي الله عنها said, “Verily, the character of the Prophet of Allāh was the Qur’ān.” (Muslim)
The Qur’ān has been sent to us as a book of guidance; a guideline on how to live this life. We have made it our goal to recite it, yet we disregard its meaning. We miss out on the gems of its guidance by reciting it without understanding, thus for those of us who are not familiar with the Arabic language, we should make an effort to recite it with its translation and tafsīr (commentary), to practice what it preaches and hold this gift dear to our hearts all through the year, not just in Ramaḍān.
Join us in our daily ‘Rise Through Recitation’ sessions where we allocate a time every day (over zoom) to recite together and reflect on the lessons and wisdom of this divine gift.