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.