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Remaining Steadfast After
Ramadan
by Shaykh
Salih Al-Fouzan
Sufyan Ibn `Abdullah,
may Allah be pleased with him, said: "O Messenger of
Allah, tell me something about Islam, which I cannot ask
anyone else besides you." He said: "Say: 'I believe in
Allah' and then be steadfast (upon that)." [Sahih Muslim]
The Hadith is proof that the servant is obligated, after
having Iman in Allah, to persevere and be steadfast upon
obeying Him by performing the obligatory acts and avoiding
the prohibited ones. This is achieved by following the
Straight Path, which is the firm Religion without drifting
away from it, to the right or to the left.
If the Muslim lives through Ramadan and spent his days in
fasting and his nights in prayer and he accustomed himself
to doing acts of good, then he must continue to remain
upon this obedience to Allah at all times. This is the
true state of the slave, for indeed, the Lord of the
months is One and He is ever watchful and witnessing over
his servants at all times.
Indeed, steadfastness after Ramadan and the rectification
of one's statements and actions are the greatest signs
that one has gained benefit from the month of Ramadan and
striven in obedience. They are tokens of reception and
signs of success.
Furthermore, the deeds of a servant do not come to an end
with the end of a month and the beginning of another,
rather they continue and extend until he reaches death.
Allah says: {And worship your Lord until the certainty
(death) comes to you}. (Al-Hijr: 99)
If the fasting of Ramadan comes to an end, then indeed the
voluntary fasting is still prescribed throughout the
entire year. If standing in prayer at night during Ramadan
comes to an end, then indeed, the entire year is a time
for performing the night prayer. And if the Zakat-ul-Fitr
comes to an end, then there is still the Zakah that is
obligatory as well as the voluntary charity that lasts the
whole year. This goes the same for reciting the Qur’an and
pondering over its meaning as well as every other
righteous deed that is sought, for they can be done at all
times. From the many bounties that Allah has bestowed upon
his servants is that He has placed for them many different
types of righteous acts and provided many means for doing
good deeds. Therefore, the ardor and zeal of the Muslim
must be constant and he must continue to remain in the
service of his Lord.
It is unfortunate to find that some people perform worship
by doing different types of righteous deeds during
Ramadan. They guard strictly upon their five daily prayers
in the Masjid, they recite the Qur’an a lot and they give
in charity from their wealth. But when Ramadan comes to an
end, they grow lazy in their worship. Rather, sometimes
they even abandon the obligations, both generally, such as
praying in congregation, and specifically, such as praying
the Fajr prayer.
And they commit forbidden acts such as sleeping over the
time of prayers, indulging in places of foolishness and
entertainment, and mingling in parks, especially on the
day of `Eid. Obtaining help from these evils is only
through the grace of Allah. Thus, they demolish what they
have constructed and destroy what they have established.
This is an indication of deprivation and a sign of
perdition. We ask Allah for His safeguarding and
protection.
Indeed, this type of people take the example of turning in
repentance and ceasing from committing evil deeds as
something specific and restricted to the month of Ramadan.
And they stop doing these (good) acts when the month
stops. Thus, it is as if they have abandoned sinning for
the sake of Ramadan, and not out of fear of Allah. How
evil are these people who do not know Allah, except in
Ramadan!
Truly, the success that Allah grants His servant lies in
the fasting of Ramadan. His assisting him to do that is a
great favor, thus the calls for the servant to be grateful
to his Lord. This understanding can be found in the
statement of Allah after completing the favor of the month
of fasting:
{(He wants that you) must complete the same number of
days, and that you must magnify Allah (by saying Allahu
Akbar) for having guided you, so that you may be grateful
to Him}. (Al-Baqarah: 185)
The one who is grateful for having fasted, will remain
upon that condition and continue to perform righteous
deeds.
Verily, the true way of the Muslim is that of one who
praises and thanks his Lord for giving him the ability to
fast and make Qiyam. His condition after Ramadan is better
than it was before Ramadan. He is more receptive to obey,
desiring to do good deeds and quick to enforce the
obligatory acts. This is because he has gained benefit
form this prominent institute of learning. It is that of
one who fears for having his fast not accepted, for indeed
Allah only accepts from those who fear Him.
The righteous predecessors would struggle to complete and
perfect their deeds, hoping afterwards, that it would be
accepted and fearing that it would be rejected. From the
reports of `Ali, "Be more concerned with having your deeds
accepted than the deed itself. Did you not hear Allah say:
{Verily Allah, only accepts those from those who fear Him.
(i.e. possess Taqwa)}. [5: 27] "[Lata'if ul Ma`arif, p.
246]
`A'ishah said: "I asked the Messenger of Allah concerning
the ayah: 'And the one who are given what they are given
and their hearts tremble with fear.' Are they the ones who
drink alcohol and steal?" He said: "No, o daughter of As-Siddiq.
Rather, they are the ones who fast and pray and give in
charity yet fear that it won’t be accepted from them. They
are the ones who rush to do good deeds and they are the
first to do them." [Sahih Sunan At-Tirmidhi 3/79-80]
So be warned and again be warned of turning backward after
having attained guidance of going astray after
persevering. And ask Allah to provide you with duration in
doing righteous deeds and continuity in performing good
acts. And ask Allah that He grant you a good end, so that
He may accept our Ramadan from us.
Excerpted from
www.islaam.com with slight modifications.
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