STARTING RAMADAN WITH A CLEAN SLATE

As Ramadan begins, many of us will revisit the best and worst moments of our lives. Ramadan often signifies a clean slate where we try to overcome our shortcomings by molding into the best possible Islamic personality. We repent for our previous sins and missteps in life. Hopeful and optimistic, we will make resolutions to change our lives for the better. As Muslims, we must recount our actions and sentiments every single day as if it were our last day on this Earth. Starting with a clean slate requires several duties and commitments.

First, we need to reflect on our past actions and dispositions (nafsiyah). Were our actions Islamic and did we fulfill our duties properly and to the best of our potential? Was our nafsiyah the best of character? Through accountability, we are able to grasp the depth of this trial and fully view our behavior in front of Allah (swt). The prophet (saw) said:

“The believer sees his sin as a mountain beneath which he is sitting and which he fears it may fall down upon him. The rebellious person sees his sin as a fly which passes in front of his nose and he swats it away…” (Bukhari)

Secondly, we should repent for our sins through tawba with absolute sincerity and truly regretting our misguided actions. The prophet (saw) said:

“Allah (saw) says: O Son of Adam, as long as you supplicate to Me and have hope in Me I will pardon you in spite of what you have done, and I do not care. O Son of Adam, if your sins were so numerous as to reach the lofty regions of the sky, then you asked My forgiveness, I would forgive you, and I do not care. O Son of Adam, if you were to meet Me with enough sins to fill the earth, then met Me, not associating anything with Me (in worship), I shall greet you with its equivalent in forgiveness.” (Tirmithi)

Despairing of Allah’s mercy is Haraam. Allah (swt) says:

“…never give up hope of Allah’s Mercy (rawh). Certainly no one despairs of Allah’s Mercy, except the people who disbelieve.” [TMQ 12: 87]

If we fail our Muslim brothers and sisters, we must repent to Allah (swt), regret our wrong-doing, and give them their right whether it may be inheritance, over-due monies, re-establishing family ties, or honoring any type of trust (amanah). Allah (swt) revealed:

“There is no good in most of their secret talks save (in) him who orders Sadaqah (charity in Allah’s Cause), or Ma’ruf (all the good and righteous deeds which Allah has ordained), or conciliation between mankind.” 

[TMQ 4: 114]

Thereby we need to rectify our situation in the present day and our future in the After-Life.

Ramadan provides us with a reason and opportunity to work harder at improving ourselves and placing different aspects of our lives in perspective. Through obligations and nawafil, we are able to strengthen our nafisyah in order to become better Muslims. Asking Allah (swt) for forgiveness and mercy in our prayers and supplications (dua’a) enables us to cement our bond with Allah (swt). The prophet (saw) said that Allah (swt) said:

“… My servant will continue to draw closer to me through the nawafil until I love him. I will then be the heart with which he thinks, the tongue with which he speaks, the sight by which he sees; when he calls me I will answer him; when he asks me for something I shall give it to him; when he asks for my help I shall help him; and the most beloved of my servant’s worship is the sincere advice (naseeha).” (Bukhari)

Through complete sincerity and earnestness, this bond fully blossoms and solidifies. Reading and memorizing Quran, while applying the ahkam will fill our hearts with light and tranquility. Increasing nawafil prayers and reading Quran during the darkest hours of night will strengthen our connection with our Creator (swt).

To make this part of our clean slate, we will need to purify our heart of any ill feelings towards our Muslim brothers and sisters. The Prophet (saw) said:

“A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He neither oppresses him nor deserts him. Whoever helps to remove the hardship of his brother, will have his difficulties removed by Allah in this world and in the Hereafter. One who covers the shortcomings of another Muslim, will have his faults covered up in this world and the next by Allah.” (Nassa’i)

We need to free ourselves from hatred, envy, and jealousy towards one another, giving the benefit of doubt when one errs — forgive our fellow Muslim brothers and sisters so we can receive Allah’s (swt) rewards in the Hereafter.

Thirdly, we need to answer the following questions with sincerity and honesty. What are our duties and roles in this life? Are we living according to Islamic values to our fullest potential? Are we fully aware of the Islamic rulings regarding our daily activities? Realizing that we need to rid our precious Ummah of the greatest munkar — living under highly oppressive man-made regimes resulting in misery and despair — our courageous Ummah has boldly risen up against the tyrant rulers. In sha Allah through the blessed month of Ramadan our efforts are not wasted. Allah (swt) said:

“Then if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoever follows My Guidance shall neither go astray, nor fall into distress and misery. But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Qur’an nor acts on its orders, etc.) verily, for him is a life of hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection. He will say:”O my Lord! Why have you raised me up blind, while I had sight (before).” (Allah) will say: “Like this, our signs came unto you, but you disregarded them (i.e. you left them, did not think deeply in them, and you turned away from them), and so this Day, you will be neglected (in the Hell-fire, away from Allah’s Mercy)”  [TMQ 20:123-126]

Indeed, it is a bleak outlook if we continue to struggle through this life without the complete blessing and radiance of Islam guiding us out of this harsh darkness. Instead of living under man-made systems, running our affairs with complete tyranny, we must work for a better way to live. We must struggle in uniting the Muslim lands under the rule of one khalifah who is elected by the Ummah, dispenses justice, protects the rights of the citizens, and carries the mercy of Islam to all of humanity. This is our most important duty: eradicating the greatest munkar from our lives. We must work wholeheartedly to resume an Islamic society (in the Muslim world) without any fear or hesitance for our lives or livelihood. Indeed Allah (swt) is the greatest Protector of His servants.

Inshallah this year will be a prosperous and glorious year for the Ummah worldwide in which we follow the blessed Prophet Mohammad’s (saw) example. In sha Allah, we will educate ourselves with the valuable knowledge necessary to overcome the harsh darkness that has engulfed us. We ask Allah (swt) to fill our hearts with taqwa and sincerity, and to lead us to the highest of ranks of believers. May Allah (swt) ease our burdens and allow us to persevere through all obstacles. Ameen.