We will soon leave the blessed month of Ramadan, its beautiful days and its fragrant nights. We will soon leave the month of the Qur'an, the month of piety, patience, Jihad, mercy, and forgiveness. It would do us good if we asked ourselves some questions: Have we fulfilled the requirements of Taqwa and graduated from the Ramadan school with a certificate of God-consciousness? Have we fought with our evil desires and defeated them, or have we been overtaken by them? Have we performed our deeds properly so we may be entitled to receive mercy and forgiveness? What have we gained from Ramadan? Ramadan is a school of faith and a stop to recharge our spiritual batteries as provision for the rest of the year. When will one take lesson and change for the better if not in Ramadan? The noble month is a true school of transformation in which we change our actions, habits and manners that are in variance with the Law of Allah. “Verily, Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.” (Qur'an, 13:11) If you were among those who benefited from Ramadan, fulfilled the requirements of Taqwa, truly fasted the month, prayed in it with truthfulness, and strove against your desires, then praise and thank Allah, and ask Him for steadfastness upon it until you meet your death. Do not be like a person who has sewn a shirt and then destroyed it. What would people say about such a person? Or what would you say about a person who earns a fortune during the day and then when night comes, he throws away all that he earned, dirham by dirham? This is the condition of the one who returns to sinning and evildoing after Ramadan and leaves obedience and righteous actions. So, after he was favored with the blessing of obedience and the enjoyment of communicating with Allah, he returned to the blaze of sins and evil actions. Falling short in one's commitment to Islam after Ramadan is manifested in many ways, including: 1 – Men leaving the five prayers in congregation, after they thronged mosques for Taraweeh prayers, thus going to the masjid for recommended prayers and leaving off the obligatory ones. 2 – Returning to listening music and watching forbidden films. Women removing the Hijab, intermingling with non-Mahram men, and so on. This is not thankfulness for blessings and favors, nor is it the sign of acceptance of one's deeds. This is instead being ungrateful to Allah's favors. Returning back to sins after Ramadan are among signs that our deeds were not accepted – and Allah's refuge is sought. For, if our deeds were sincere, we will be better people after Ramadan. We will stay away from sins and do more good deeds. The righteous people of the past would ask Allah for acceptance of their deeds for six months after Ramadan. If you want to be thankful to Allah, then leave off committing sins. Remember, the Lord of Ramadan is also the Lord of other months. If you want to continue enjoying the spirit of fasting and worship, then there remains voluntary fasting that you can do throughout the year.If praying at night during Ramadan was so spiritually uplifting, then you can continue praying Tahajjud throughout the year. Likewise charity and feeding the poor is not limited to Ramadan. And reciting and contemplating over the Qur'an is not only for Ramadan, rather it is for all times. Righteous actions are for all times and all places, so strive – O my brother and sister – and beware of laziness. And do not fall into forbidden actions. Be steadfast and upright upon the Deen of Allah at all times, for you do not know when you'll meet the Angel of Death. Beware of him taking your soul while you are in a state of sin. May Allah accept our fasting, our prayers and all righteous deeds. Ameen. – SG – Adapted from Wa Madha Ba'da Ramadan by Dar Al
