Whoever
witnessed the month without gaining any of its rewards is indeed
poor, and nothing cripples him other than negligence, laziness,
procrastination, and false hopes.
However, what is appalling is to see some of those who were guided to do good deeds and take provisions from virtues during this month hastily destroying what they had built, and replacing good with evil. This is a gross mistake and shameful act in the true sense of the word and no remorse or apology will revoke it when you stand in front of your One Lord.
However, what is appalling is to see some of those who were guided to do good deeds and take provisions from virtues during this month hastily destroying what they had built, and replacing good with evil. This is a gross mistake and shameful act in the true sense of the word and no remorse or apology will revoke it when you stand in front of your One Lord.
Bishr was asked about people who only become diligent during
the month of Ramadaan and he said, “They are abominable people,
because they only know Allah during the month of Ramadaan. The truly
righteous people are those who worship Allah diligently throughout
the whole year.”
Ash-Shibli was
asked, “Which is better: Sha‘ban or Rajab?” His answer was, “Be
a worshipper of Allah rather than a worshipper of Sha‘ban.”
We sincerely
invite such people out of fear for them to reconsider their lifestyle
and to review themselves and think about their condition before it is
too late. We advise them not to allow appearances, their strength,
health and youth to deceive them. That is because all of this is
nothing but a mirage that one may see as water, but once he reaches
it, he finds nothing. Health will be followed by sickness, youth will
be followed by old age, and strength will eventually turn into
weakness.
Such
people should know that perseverance and adherence to the right path
as well as obedience to Allah is one of the greatest signs of
acceptance of one’s good deeds. Allah says: "And worship your
Lord until there comes to you the certainty (death)." [15:99]
Consequently, the souls should remain adherent to the right and guided path just as they were during the month of Ramadaan. Guidance is not confined to certain times and acts of worship, and obedience to Allah is not limited to the month of Ramadaan.
Consequently, the souls should remain adherent to the right and guided path just as they were during the month of Ramadaan. Guidance is not confined to certain times and acts of worship, and obedience to Allah is not limited to the month of Ramadaan.
Al-Hasan
Al-Basri said, “Allah has not set an end for the believer’s work
other than death.” Then he recited: "And worship your Lord
until there comes to you the certainty (death)." [15:99]
Indeed, Ramadaan has ended but we still have several renewed
seasons for worship. The five daily prayers are among the highest and
best good deeds and prayer is the first thing about which one would
be asked on the Day of Judgment when he stands in front of Allah.
If
the fast of Ramadaan has ended, then you have the voluntary fasts and
occasions such as the six days of Shawwal, Mondays and Thursdays, the
white days, the days of Muharram, the Day of ‘Arafah, and so
on.
If the night prayer of Ramadaan has ended, you should know
that the night prayer can be offered every night: "They used to
sleep but little of the night" [51:17]
If the time of Zakat Al-Fitr has ended, then there is the obligatory Zakah in addition to the countless ways of giving voluntary charity.
If the time of Zakat Al-Fitr has ended, then there is the obligatory Zakah in addition to the countless ways of giving voluntary charity.
Ya Muslimeen, you should know that one of the attributes of the slaves of
Allah is that they perform their good deeds constantly, as Allah
says:
"Those who are constant in their prayer" [70:23]
"And they who carefully maintain their prayers" [23:9]
If you aspire to know how to save yourself from this trap and how to perform good deeds regularly, you have to do the following:
"Those who are constant in their prayer" [70:23]
"And they who carefully maintain their prayers" [23:9]
If you aspire to know how to save yourself from this trap and how to perform good deeds regularly, you have to do the following:
1- You
must be sincerely and strongly determined to do good deeds constantly
under all circumstances and conditions. This requires keeping away
from weakness and laziness. That is why the Prophet (saws) used to
seek refuge with Allah from inability and laziness, given their dire
consequences. Hence, you should seek the help of Allah and move
ahead.
2- Moderation is very important, and you should never overburden yourself, as the Prophet (saws) said: “Do such deeds as you can do easily, as Allah will not get tired (of giving rewards) until you get bored and tired (of performing religious deeds).” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
You should remember that there are blessings in perseverance. For example, whoever reads a Juz’ (portion) of the Quraan every day will read the whole Quraan in one month, and whoever observes fast for three days every month will be rewarded as if he had observed fast throughout the whole year. Likewise, whoever observes twelve voluntary Rak‘ahs every day, Allah will build a house for him in Paradise, and so on.
3- You should know that it is unacceptable for whoever observes a good deed to abandon it. It was narrated that ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn Al-‘Aas said, “The Messenger of Allah (saws) said to me: ‘O ‘Abdullah! Do not be like so-and-so; he used to get up at night (for voluntary prayer) but abandoned it later." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
4- Remember what our righteous predecessors used to do. ‘Aa’ishah said that whenever our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saws) missed the night prayer because of illness or sleep, he would pray twelve Rak’ahs the next day. [Muslim]
2- Moderation is very important, and you should never overburden yourself, as the Prophet (saws) said: “Do such deeds as you can do easily, as Allah will not get tired (of giving rewards) until you get bored and tired (of performing religious deeds).” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
You should remember that there are blessings in perseverance. For example, whoever reads a Juz’ (portion) of the Quraan every day will read the whole Quraan in one month, and whoever observes fast for three days every month will be rewarded as if he had observed fast throughout the whole year. Likewise, whoever observes twelve voluntary Rak‘ahs every day, Allah will build a house for him in Paradise, and so on.
3- You should know that it is unacceptable for whoever observes a good deed to abandon it. It was narrated that ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn Al-‘Aas said, “The Messenger of Allah (saws) said to me: ‘O ‘Abdullah! Do not be like so-and-so; he used to get up at night (for voluntary prayer) but abandoned it later." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
4- Remember what our righteous predecessors used to do. ‘Aa’ishah said that whenever our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saws) missed the night prayer because of illness or sleep, he would pray twelve Rak’ahs the next day. [Muslim]
The Prophet (saws) also once missed
‘Itikaaf and he made up for it in Shawwal.
Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Alla h(saws) said to Bilaal: "‘O Bilal, tell me about the
most hopeful act (i.e., one which you deem the most rewarding with
Allah) you have done since you accepted Islam because I heard the
sound of the steps of your shoes in front of me in Paradise.' Bilaal
said, ‘I do not consider any act more hopeful than that whenever I
make ablution (or take a bath) in any hour of the night or day, I
would immediately perform prayer for as long as was destined for me
to pray.’'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
However, the most amazing thing is what ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib used to do in response to the advice of the Prophet (saws) when he once visited him and found him sleeping with his wife Fatimah (daughter of the Prophet (saws)). ‘Ali said, “The Prophet (saws) placed his leg between me and Fatimah and taught us what to say when we go to bed, saying: ‘When you go to your bed recite thirty-three times SubhanAllah (Glory be to Allah), thirty-three times Alhumdulillah (All praise is for Allah), and thirty-four times Allahu Akbar (Allah is The Greatest).’ ‘Ali added ‘By Allah, I never left this practice for the rest of my life.’ A man asked him, ‘Even on the night of the Battle of Siffeen?’ He said, ‘Yes, I observed this even on the night of Siffeen.’” [Al-Hakim: Saheeh]
However, the most amazing thing is what ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib used to do in response to the advice of the Prophet (saws) when he once visited him and found him sleeping with his wife Fatimah (daughter of the Prophet (saws)). ‘Ali said, “The Prophet (saws) placed his leg between me and Fatimah and taught us what to say when we go to bed, saying: ‘When you go to your bed recite thirty-three times SubhanAllah (Glory be to Allah), thirty-three times Alhumdulillah (All praise is for Allah), and thirty-four times Allahu Akbar (Allah is The Greatest).’ ‘Ali added ‘By Allah, I never left this practice for the rest of my life.’ A man asked him, ‘Even on the night of the Battle of Siffeen?’ He said, ‘Yes, I observed this even on the night of Siffeen.’” [Al-Hakim: Saheeh]
If you contemplate over this
narration, you will be amazed at the keenness and persistence on
doing good deeds even at times of war and bloodshed. None of these
distracted him from implementing the advice of the Prophet saws)
regarding what he should say upon going to bed. Such stories and
narrations should make you persist in doing good deeds and attempting
to imitate the righteous predecessors and following their path.
INSHA'ALLAH TO FURTHER READ SIMILAR ARTICLES, CLICK:
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- Types of People at the end of Ramadaan
- What is a Successful Ramadan?
- What have we gained from Ramadaan?
- Worship is for life, not just Ramadaan
- Sooooo... what AFTER Ramadaan?!?
- Keep the Spirit of Ramadaan Alive All Yearrrrrr...
- How to remain Steadfast after Ramadaan?
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