Muhammad Abdul Hayee Nasir & Hafiz Thabit Balogun, Students, Jamia Ahmadiyya International Ghana
Today, Muslims all around the globe celebrate this day to glorify and express our gratitude to Allah the Almighty for giving us the opportunity to witness the holy month of Ramadan once again in our lives. Amidst the anticipation of celebration, we must not overlook the valuable lessons gleaned from this blessed month. It is imperative that we persevere with the beautiful habits we have cultivated within ourselves, even beyond Ramadan.
The Holy Prophetsa is reported to have said:
اكْلَفُوا مِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الْعَمَلِ أَدْوَمُهُ وَإِنْ قَلَّ
“Take on only as much as you can do of good deeds, for the best of deeds is that which is done consistently, even if it is little.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, Kitab az-zuhd, bab al-mudawamati ‘ala amal, Hadith 4240)
From this hadith, it is clear that persistence is an act of virtue that ought to be carried out throughout one’s lifetime. This is exactly what we need now that Ramadan is over: persistence. On one occasion, while elucidating on the virtues of Ramadan, Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih IIra stated:
“Out of twelve months, people consider Ramadan, i.e., fasting, to be limited to only one month, but for us [Ahmadis] the entire year should be Ramadan and our whole life should be spent like this.” (Khutbat-e-Mahmood, Vol. 25, p. 531)
Similarly, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa states:
“Even though the month of the obligatory fasts is coming to an end, the time to elevate the standard of our other obligations and striving to excel in them is now upon us. After the month of Ramadan, if we forget this reality of how one should maintain the [high] standards of our responsibilities and obligations, then we have not observed the month of Ramadan in accordance with the guidance of the Holy Prophetsa.” (Friday Sermon 29th April 2022; Al Hakam, 27 May 2022, Issue 219, p. 23)
In this piece, let us explore just some of the invaluable lessons imparted to us by this blessed month.
Recitation of the Holy Quran
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims diligently strive to engage with the Holy Quran, devoting themselves to its recitation and earnestly seeking to comprehend its teachings to the fullest extent of their abilities. Allah states in the Holy Quran:
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيَ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ
“The month of Ramadan is that in which the Quran was sent down as a guidance for mankind with clear proofs of guidance and discrimination.” (Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.186)
This month’s relationship with the Quran is such that it is narrated that the archangel Gabrielas used to repeat the recitation of the Quran with the Holy Prophetsa once a year, but he repeated it twice with him in the year he died. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab fada’ili l-qur’an, Bab kana jibrilu yaridu l-qur’an ‘ala n-nabiyyisa, Hadith 4998)
With regards to the Holy Quran, the Promised Messiahas states:
“Studying it with attention and sincerity purifies the heart, dispels layers of darkness, and expands the mind, and, drawing a seeker after truth towards the Holy One, invests him with such light and manifest signs that are characteristic of those who have attained nearness to the Holy One, and which cannot be acquired by man through any other device or plan.” (Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya [English],Part 4, p. 175)
Similarly, advising Ahmadi Muslims, Khalifatul Masih Vaa states:
“Then, after focusing on offering prayer once its philosophy is understood, it is the duty of a believer to recite and understand the Holy Quran and give due attention to it. Often, during Ramadan, special attention is given to this. You should ponder over the commentary [of the Holy Quran], and this is also a means to connect one Ramadan to the next. Great attention should be given to the Holy Quran.” (Friday Sermon 29th April 2022; Al Hakam, 27 May 2022, Issue 219, p. 25)
Thus, it remains our responsibility to uphold the honourable practice of reading the Holy Quran daily even after Ramadan concludes.
Voluntary prayers and rights of creation
During the month of Ramadan, we strive earnestly to perform tahajjud prayers, seeking to draw closer to the Almighty Allah. Allah states in the Holy Quran:
يٰۤاَيُّہَا الۡمُزَّمِّلُ قُمِ الَّيۡلَ اِلَّا قَلِيۡلًا نِّصۡفَہٗۤ اَوِ انۡقُصۡ مِنۡہُ قَلِيۡلًا اَوۡ زِدۡ عَلَيۡہِ وَرَتِّلِ الۡقُرۡاٰنَ تَرۡتِيۡلًا
“O thou who art bearing [a heavy responsibility], stand up [in Prayer] at night except a small portion thereof—half of it, or make it a little less than that or make it a little more than that—and recite the Quran slowly and thoughtfully.” (Surah al-Muzzammil, Ch.73: V.2-5)
Similarly, Hazrat Abu Hurairara narrates that he heard the Holy Prophetsa saying regarding Ramadan that, ‘Whoever prayed at night in [the month of Ramadan] out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab fadli laylati l-qadr, Bab fadli laylati l-qadr, Hadith 2014)
Speaking of our responsibilities in this regard, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa states:
“The month of fasting has ended. It was a month in which we focused upon our voluntary prayers. However, we must now seek to continue fulfilling the rights owed to God and the rights owed to the creation of God. We must continue offering the voluntary prayers and promptly offering our obligatory prayers.
“If we paid attention during Ramadan towards controlling our ego and desires, then we must continue this practice. If we became compassionate towards the creation of God, then we must maintain this compassion and seek to improve in our good deeds.” (Eid Sermon 16 June 2018; “Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Delivers Eid Sermon in London”, www.pressahmadiyya.com)
Huzooraa has similarly spoken about treating one another well with great emphasis. He states:
“[…] the method which the Promised Messiah has told us in order to continue to garner the blessings of Ramadan is to keep practising the high morals we show one another, which we learnt in the month of Ramadan. And to increase our love for one another and the spirit of brotherhood and to fulfil the rights of others.” (Friday Sermon 29 April 2022; Al Hakam, 27 May 2022, Issue 219, p. 25)
Charity
Speaking of brotherhood and treating others well, amidst the sacred aura of Ramadan, another virtuous habit we diligently nurture within ourselves is the noble act of charity. In the Holy Quran, Allah the Almighty declares regarding those who give charity:
الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُم بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ سِرًّا وَعَلاَنِيَةً فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
“Those who spend their wealth by night and day, secretly and openly, have their reward with their Lord; on them [shall come] no fear, nor shall they grieve.” (Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.275)
In this regard, Huzooraa said:
“[…] it is certainly true that children around the world are suffering from severe hunger. However, those madly seeking wars do not care at all about the suffering of innocent children who are being deprived of their parents and are living a life of misery. In such a state, those of us able to fill our stomachs and eat well on Eid, we should increase in our realisation of the suffering of others.” (Eid Sermon 16 June 2018; “Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Delivers Eid Sermon in London”, www.pressahmadiyya.com)
Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to persist in this honourable deed beyond Ramadan, seeking further blessings from Allah.
Moderating speech and refraining from bad deeds
On ordinary days, it is expected that we treat others with respect, but during Ramadan, this expectation elevates significantly. While fasting, we are obliged to abstain from using foul language and engaging in indecent behavior.
The Holy Quran states:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا
“O ye who believe! fear Allah, and say the right word.” (Surah al-Ahzab, Ch.33: V.71)
Thus, this should be a constant affair in our lives. Then, during Ramadan, we also strive diligently to avoid wrongdoing to the best of our ability, as it is a sacred time when God restricts Satan’s influence.
It is narrated that the Holy Prophetsa said:
“The five (daily) prayers and from one Friday prayer to the (next) Friday prayer, and from Ramadan to Ramadan are expiations for the (sins) committed in between (their intervals) provided one shuns the major sins.” (Sahih Muslim, Kitab at-taharah, Bab salawatil khams wa l-jumu‘ah…, Hadith 233a)
Modern research, as exemplified by the works of James Clear and Charles Duhigg, sheds light on the mechanisms required to develop new habits, reinforce them, and break free from negative ones. The month of Ramadan provides an optimal opportunity to relinquish negative behaviours and redirect our focus towards positive ones.
Hence, we should try our utmost to never indulge in the bad habits that we were able to leave in this month of Ramadan.
Conclusion
As we bid farewell to Ramadan, let us remember that its departure heralds not an end but a continuation of our spiritual journey. Let us embrace its teachings with open hearts and unwavering commitment, knowing that in their practice lies the fulfilment of our purpose and the attainment of Divine grace.
Truly, Ramadan serves not only as a month of fasting and reflection but as a lifelong beacon guiding us towards righteousness and inner peace. We conclude with the blessed words of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa:
“If we continue the good deeds we practised during Ramadan into the rest of our lives, in that case, we will truly be celebrating Eid and the joy we feel today will encompass the rest of our coming year. This is the true purpose of Eid. Otherwise, merely dressing up, having nice food and meeting with friends and making plans for the day are meaningless without understanding Eid’s real purpose.” (Eid Sermon 16 June 2018; “Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Delivers Eid Sermon in London”, www.pressahmadiyya.com)