SEEK THE BLESSINGS OF RAMADHAN

SEEK THE BLESSINGS OF RAMADHAN


Our beloved prophet Mohammed (salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) was promised by Allah that all of his(salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) sins-past and future-were to be forgiven. It was he(salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) who received the divine inspiration of the word of Allah-the message of merciful direction to mankind-what we know of as the Quran. He was the master teacher of our predecessors, the first generation of Muslims. And yet he(salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) was steadfast in his practice throughout the year and increasing in Ramadhan-of the standing for the night prayer and his review of the Quran recitation. He(salla Allahu alaihi wa salam), of all the people of this world, was perhaps in less need of it than others, and yet he still humbled himself to observe such forms of increased intense worship. Out of his own recognition of his own level as regards the Creator, and out of his desire to truthfully be a humble and thankful slave to the Creator.

Then what about us today? Why is it that we have become so pre-occupied with our daily lives that we have grown to ignore the necessities of our spiritual side?

Prophet Mohammed (salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) was a man, a human, and therefore had typical human needs, wants, and instincts as do we all. And yet, he overcame the weakness of his own humanity by seeking Allah's help and guidance to worship Him as He deserves. We have been told directly by Allah that we have in the messenger an excellent exempler. (s. 33, v. 21) We should then observe that example and follow it, if we are truly sincere in our desire to please Allah and reap great rewards.

The prophet(salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) himself told us that although he devoted himself to Allah in various forms of worship such as fasting and prayer, that he did not do it to the extent of extremity by ignoring his own human needs and instincts. He (salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) wisely instructed his companions to take the middle course in life by reminding them that he himself (salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) takes on wives, sleeps, eats, drinks-enjoying the pleasure this life has to offer and attending to his own physical needs and inclinations. He(salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) also instructed his companions to take and imitate of his practice that what they could.

When the holy month of Ramadhan came round, he (salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) was well known to increase his devotion and commitment to those (i.e. prayer and fasting) types of worship as well as other forms. A well-established tradition tells us that although he was quite generous year-round, he was at his height of generosity in Ramadhan, in the hopes of attaining more of Allah's pleasure and seeking His bounties.

We should then take heed of this fine example that our beloved prophet(salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) has set for us, by following his way of increasing in the nightly standing for prayer, recitation of the Quran, increasing in acts of charity and kindness, practicing restraint from physical desires and even anger, and simply bringing ourselves closer to the Creator in many various ways.

Beware of being tempted by the simple and frivolous pastimes of this life that they should not take your time and attention away from that which is more important-worshipping Allah. Take full advantage of the promise of increase in rewards of good deeds during this blessed month.

May Allah accept our fasts and our worship, and may He shed His vast blessings down upon us to be of the guided. Ameen.

MY RECENT ABSENCE HERE

Assalaamu alaikum, readers.

I haven't posted any new articles here for quite a while. Actually, my articles are only monthly. And, as I recall, I missed last month's.

This past summer has been rather strenuous. In late spring, I had news from my family that my father had been diagnosed with severe lung cancer. He went thru the treatments of chemo and radiation, and survived it all pretty well, considering his drastic weight loss before the regimen.

During that time, I was in hectic preparation for my youngest son's wedding in early July. The time was quite bitter-sweet to me, trying to be happy for my son beginning his new life, while all the time coming to realization that my father's life was coming to an end and I could not be there with him at the time.

The wedding went well, and I heard good news from my father and the rest of the family that he had completed his treatments, and was apparently on his way to recovery. So, did not make plans to travel to visit him at that time. After some travel myself nearer home after the wedding, I returned and contacted my family to enquire as to my father's health. Was reassured immediately that everything was OK, they were just waiting on the results from the latest test to reveal to them the condition of the cancer after the regimen of treatments.

After only two days passed, I could no longer wait for the rest of the week for the results of the tests, so called once more, only to find my father's condition drastically falling quickly. In just a period of two short days, he had dropped from the strong father I had heard on the telephone, to a weak old man, suffering from dehydration, because he could no longer force himself to drink properly. They had taken him to the cancer center where he had been treated, for emergency fluid infusions by IV.

We immediately made plans for me to travel at earliest possible date to visit him, which was a whole week away. With summer time coming to an end soon, airlines were fully booked both coming and going. Hard to get a flight at all, and impossible to get anything immediate.

I went to visit him, but he had died the morning before I traveled. I was only able to spend time with the rest of the family, and to be there for his funeral.

Surely, we come from Allah, and it is to Him that is our return.

So, my dear readers...no article for last month, as I was in no condition emotionally for writing at that time.

Now I resume my writing, and I will also be opening up a new blog to air out my personal thoughts on all this, as I feel I need that outlet.

Thankyou for your support, and your patience, and your loyalty in reading my work.

May Allah help and guide us all to that which is best.

Balqees.