Actually why do we Muslims observe the fast of Ramadhan?
Many might say that they are simply observing one of the tenets of Islam. It is a mandatory requirement which if neglected lands one in the fires of hell.
We teach our young children this as well albeit with promises of rewards such as cash and new clothes for those who make the effort to fast.
As for us adults we too are motivated by promises of rewards that get credited to our spiritual account for the day of reckoning, and in this month according to hadeeth, rewards for good deeds performed sincerely in the name of Allah are MULTIPLIED by 70 times.
In the last ten days of Ramadhan when the going tends to get somewhat tougher (for me at least), we are also motivated by the promise of blessings of the Night of Power/Destiny which are better than 1000 months ie 83 years. In these final days we try to up the ante in anticipation and hope of being bestowed this night.
So this is the month in every year of the Islamic calendar when we strive to earn all these rewards by doing all that is good and avoiding all that is forbidden during the fasting hours and even after.
In fact this is the one month in every year where we undergo a refresher training not only in spiritual matters but also in our worldly affairs.
In the preceding months while still unfailingly offering our prayers, we probably had slipped into behaviours unbecoming of good Muslims, and tainted our hearts with arrogant thoughts, perhaps of vanity and pride at the very least.
Allah says in the Quran that fasting is prescribed upon us believers so that we MAY learn Taqwa.
And of course, this Taqwa is the ultimate reward of Ramadan, the supreme triumph.
It is not guaranteed like the extra credits are guaranteed. Like the elusiveness of the Night of Power, Taqwa is a virtue that we MAY or MAY NOT learn.
And how to know that we have learnt Taqwa?
It's by our behaviour on the first of Syawal and beyond! Do we still practise Allah-consciousness and self-restraint on the first of Syawal and beyond till 29th Syaaban?
Or not?
I for one hope that Allah grants me another Ramadhan, not just for the rewards but also the opportunity to develop/redevelop Taqwa.
For Allah says:
" The best of you are those who have learnt Taqwa" (49 : 13).
______________
~inspired by Ustaz Shihabuddin from last night's usrah
~also this article:
Many might say that they are simply observing one of the tenets of Islam. It is a mandatory requirement which if neglected lands one in the fires of hell.
We teach our young children this as well albeit with promises of rewards such as cash and new clothes for those who make the effort to fast.
As for us adults we too are motivated by promises of rewards that get credited to our spiritual account for the day of reckoning, and in this month according to hadeeth, rewards for good deeds performed sincerely in the name of Allah are MULTIPLIED by 70 times.
In the last ten days of Ramadhan when the going tends to get somewhat tougher (for me at least), we are also motivated by the promise of blessings of the Night of Power/Destiny which are better than 1000 months ie 83 years. In these final days we try to up the ante in anticipation and hope of being bestowed this night.
So this is the month in every year of the Islamic calendar when we strive to earn all these rewards by doing all that is good and avoiding all that is forbidden during the fasting hours and even after.
In fact this is the one month in every year where we undergo a refresher training not only in spiritual matters but also in our worldly affairs.
In the preceding months while still unfailingly offering our prayers, we probably had slipped into behaviours unbecoming of good Muslims, and tainted our hearts with arrogant thoughts, perhaps of vanity and pride at the very least.
Allah says in the Quran that fasting is prescribed upon us believers so that we MAY learn Taqwa.
And of course, this Taqwa is the ultimate reward of Ramadan, the supreme triumph.
It is not guaranteed like the extra credits are guaranteed. Like the elusiveness of the Night of Power, Taqwa is a virtue that we MAY or MAY NOT learn.
And how to know that we have learnt Taqwa?
It's by our behaviour on the first of Syawal and beyond! Do we still practise Allah-consciousness and self-restraint on the first of Syawal and beyond till 29th Syaaban?
Or not?
I for one hope that Allah grants me another Ramadhan, not just for the rewards but also the opportunity to develop/redevelop Taqwa.
For Allah says:
" The best of you are those who have learnt Taqwa" (49 : 13).
______________
~inspired by Ustaz Shihabuddin from last night's usrah
~also this article:
The Greatness of Ramadaan
by Shaykh Seraj Hendricks, Head Mufti (1998) of Cape Town, South Africa
4 comments:
Aunty Zen,
Very insightful thoughts. We wish you long life and good health so you'll get to meet the next Ramadan. purrrr *giggles*
Salam Ramadhan al-mubarak kanda. I believe the moment we really understand and know who we are and who our Maker is (mengenal diri dan mengenal Allah), Taqwa will be bestowed upon us. That is one journey we all should embark on first (awaluddin maghrifatullah). Insyaallah.
may Allah bless us all and grants our prayer to meet that elusive Lailatul Qadar.
wallahuaklam.
Selamat menyambut Eidul fitri buat kanda sekeluarga, maaf jika ada terlanjur kata terlebih bicara.
awww how sweet of you.... ameen... thanks Cats
Salam kembali dinda... ameen, ameen
Doc we go on so many wordly journeys in our life time but that one journey you mentioned, I'm not sure if I have started yet - what's the passport/visa requirements?
Salam Eidul Fitri to all at home :)
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