Ramadan arrives as a much-needed blessing, yet leaves in a heartbeat.
For Muslims, amid the traps of Dajjal and with atheism on the rise, Ramadan allows a block of time in the year where we can slow down, introspect and begin to pay more attention to the focus of our life: worshipping Allah and serving His creation.
This month creates an environment in which we can – with less friction – study the Holy Quran, offer prayers, remember Allah, show gratitude and offer financial sacrifices.
Good habits would have formed in Ramadan and a Muslim who truly desired to attain Allah’s pleasure surely encountered the sweetness of Allah’s love and closeness. But the end of this holy month doesn’t mean our spirituality should decline – if we want, the spirit Ramadan brought can be the new dawn for our spiritual life.
As we heard in Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V’saa Friday Sermon on 22 April 2022, the paths of taqwa (righteousness) are narrow, diverse and require a great spiritual jihad. It’s a life-long goal. All the good Ramadan carried with it should be the stepping stones to furthering our spirituality and traversing the paths of taqwa. We should be resolute and vow to develop the goodness Ramadan brought with it and attain the ultimate objective of Islam: to bring man and God closer.
Yes, we fall and falter, but to get back up is what Allah wants. His forgiveness is immense and immeasurable; He loves more than a mother and wants to see His servants progress and succeed – Allah is not a cruel and merciless king but the Ever-Forgiving and Merciful God.
So, whenever we stumble, let us remember Allah’s mercy, pick ourselves up and turn to Him again. The Holy Prophet Muhammadsa said:
“By God! Allah the Almighty is more delighted with the repentance of His servant, than a person who finds their camel that was lost in the wilderness.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab-ul-Dawat)
Allah says that if a servant of His draws to Him an arm’s length, He draws near to him a cubit and if he goes to Him walking, He runs towards him. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab-ul-Tawhid)
Therefore, as we leave Ramadan and enter the world once again without the protection and blessings of this holy month, we should be confident that Allah is always present and there to help and guide us. The Holy Prophetsa said that Allah declares:
أَنَا عِنْدَ ظَنِّ عَبْدِي بِيْ
“I am as My servant thinks I am”. This hadith is hugely motivating and brings hope to a believer – Allah is how we perceive Him to be. Therefore, we should think good of Allah’s mercy, grace and power. And so post-Ramadan, we can continue to work on our perception and belief in Allah and come to the realisation that Allah is the Most-Forgiving and the doors to His bounties never close. The Promised Messiahas wrote:
“The doors to God Almighty’s grace and bounties are never closed. If man turns to Him wholeheartedly and with sincerity, then God Almighty is Forgiving, Merciful and accepts the repentance of such a person.
“To estimate which sinner will be forgiven [and who will not] by God Almighty is a severe affront and insolence in the presence of God Almighty. The treasures of His mercy are vast and limitless. There is no deficiency in His presence and His doors are not closed to anyone. This is not like the jobs of the British, whereby only a highly educated person would be granted a job. All those who reach in the presence of God Almighty will attain high ranks. This is a categorical promise. Unfortunate indeed is the one who despairs of God Almighty and is in a state of ignorance at the time of his demise; indeed, in such a case, the door is then closed for them.” (Malfuzat, Vol. 3, pp. 296-297)
Therefore, let’s leave all despair with the end of Ramadan and grow the confidence that until the next Ramadan arrives, we can enjoy the new spiritual horizon that awaits and pick ourselves, turning to Allah, whenever we fall.