The holy month of fasting (Ramadan) is a blessed and sacred period for muslims as they are required to stay pure in body, thoughts and deeds. Unquestionably, it is a productive month characterized by self-restraint and assessment of a muslim’s relationship with Allah and with his fellow men. Regular activities in the month include fasting from dawn to dust, completing the recitation of the Qur’an at least once, performing Taraweeh and Tahajud, attending and listening to Islamic sermons. During this month, muslims are increased in provisions, deepened in Eeman (faith) and they compete in performing the deeds mentioned above, which is in accordance to what Allah says in the Qur’an:
“The last thereof (that wine) will be the smell of musk, and for this let (all) those strive who want to strive (i.e. hasten earnestly to the obedience of Allah).” [Quran, 83:26]
Allah also says:
“And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous.” [Quran, 3:133]
But the question that rears its ugly head is, “what happens after the holy month of Ramadan departs?” Literally, Eid-ul-Fitr comes to mind, a period of celebration in recognition of the end of the month long fasting. Muslims, on the day, adorn themselves in their best clothes with beautiful emanating fragrance to perform the Eid prayer, with visitation to family and friends following afterwards. The question then resurfaces, “what actually happens after the Eid?” What manners and habits do we display afterwards? In as much as it is worrying to say, most muslims revert to their old bad habits. Immodest dressing, especially that of muslim women, delaying of prayers until after its stipulated time and missing of daily prayers altogether, neglect of the Qur’an and the abuse of other people’s rights become the order of the day. To cap it all off, is the participation in distasteful occasions, the top of it being the newly invented Sallah Bash/Parties which encourage lots of immoral scenes.
These situational ironies leave a lot to be desired. One can only ask, “was this the intent of Allah for given us the holy month of Ramadan? To train muslims for one month every year only for us to revert to our previous bad habits before the training? The obvious answer is as clear as the difference between day and night.
The purpose of Ramadan is vividly stated in Qur’an 2:183 where Allah says, “O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.” It would be absolutely impossible to attain this state of righteousness that Allah intends for muslims if we continue to revert and remain glued to our old disgusting acts right after Ramadan.
With every Ramadan, the muslim should resolve to improve at least one thing about him or herself, with the hope that new acceptable traits can be developed while fasting and then continue with after Ramadan departs. Failure to do this would only make one be seen as a hypocrite who only becomes a good Muslim in Ramadan. We could resolve to dress more modestly, fast on Mondays and Thursdays throughout the year, complete the recitation of the Qur’an every month, always wake up for Fajr, perform Tahajjud regularly, quit smoking and attending of haram programmes, adopt the listening to Islamic sermons, observing every daily prayer at its right time, helping the poor and making our tongues moist with the remembrance of Allah. We should be consistent in the good deeds we do in Ramadan for that is better for us as Muslims, else we could become that person Allah mentioned in the Quran: “And do not be like she who untwisted her spun thread after it was strong” [Quran, 16:92]. This means that we should not destroy the good habits that we have worked hard to build in the month of Ramadan, but stick to them even after the holy month has departed. The Prophet (SAW) said: “The best deeds are those we are consistent with, even if they are small deeds” [Bukhari].
It is incumbent on the muslim to know that the sign of acceptance of a good deed by Allah is that you persist doing it and then follow it with another good deed, whereas the sign of Allah’s rejection of one’s fast is that he or she reverts to the committing of sins or doing what Islam prohibits. This should be kept in mind by those who regard the month long fasting as a burden, and thus feel relieved after its departure as they think that as Ramadan has ended, they are free to commit any sin they feel inclined to, thus transgressing the commands of their Lord.
I ask Allah to help us stay steadfast in His guidance and to help muslims remain glued to the good deeds that we initiated in the Ramadan. We should always remember that, the actions most beloved to Allah are those done consistently, regardless of how little they seem to us. Allah is the all-knower and He is aware of all that we do. So be wise, strive to do the little you can with consistency for you do not know when you will return to your creator.
References
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Article Provided by
Meesuna
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Article: After Ramadan... What Happens?
Published: 26-07-2018.
Place: Northern Region GH
Phone: +233247523716
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Mohammed Meesuna is a Most Active Contributor (MAC/GhMYC) and a Most Active Board Member (MABM/GhMYC) of GhMYC. A graduate from the KNUST and currently undertaking his National Service at the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Tamale.
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