Points to ponder before Ramadaan leaves us!

A person might contemplate during Ramadaan upon numerous subjects. He should reflect upon his affairs, his final abode, and what is awaiting him, as regards his departure to Allah. He can also contemplate over his morals and evil aspects, in the hope of getting rid of the latter; his acts of worship in which he was negligent and which were filled with doubts and passing thoughts, which kept him far from Allah and from having good private talk with Him. He can contemplate about standing in front of Him; what mends his own self and final abode, and what causes him to know and have love for his Lord.

A believer should reflect upon the Names and Attributes of Allah and his standing to his Lord on the Day the people would stand to the Lord of the Worlds. If one reflects upon the Names and Attributes of Allah, his living and final abode, his departure, death and grave, his resurrection and standing in front of Allah, the evil of his own soul and the deficiencies of his actions and provision, undoubtedly his reflection would cause him to increase in faith and refrain from disobedience. It would enable him to endure the difficulty of striving against the evil he is suffering from, remember the grave, death and accounting and remember the terrors and standing in front of Allah. All of this would be a motive for him to hasten to Allah to keep away from sins, fear Allah, do his best and strive to excel in worship and obedience and persist in thinking of what returns upon him with good in his worldly life and his final abode.

As for the remembrance of Allah if one devotes himself to it, he will be in the same state mentioned by Allah who says: "So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me." [2:152] Among the benefits of one's leaving his food and drink in fasting is to realize this state. Is it appropriate that one realizes this during his day and when he breaks his fast, he gives up meditation and remembrance of Allah ? Those high ranks that represent the origin of the knowledge of and love for Allah. Once he reflects upon the names and attributes of Allah, he affirms the Oneness of his Lord, loves Him, fears Him, has hope in Him, supplicates Him, draws near Him and makes his share from Allah the most important priority for him in the world and the Hereafter.

We need this meaning today and after Ramadaan, otherwise, what would we do if our days pass and we return to our old state and the month of Ramadaan gets over without getting any of that?

The next meaning is to make substantial contributions to increasing the sustenance for the poor and needy. It is one of the traces of Taqwaa. It is our share of good which we should be keen to obtain, to give out of your property to the poor and needy for the sake of Allah. Make hunger and thirst a reminder for us of those who have long been suffering from hunger and thirst, support our brethren and the righteous slaves of Allah and honor and bring about pleasure upon them. All of this is among the best deeds mentioned by the Messenger of Allah (saws) - That was his state in Ramadaan. He was the most generous of all people, and he used to be at the pinnacle of his generosity in the month of Ramadaan, when Jibreel (as) would teach him the Quraan as mentioned in Bukhari and Muslim.

To conclude those benefits let us say that fasting, standing at night in prayer, remembrance of Allah and reduction of food, drink and desire in Ramadaan break the soul's voracity, greediness, wrongness and transgression. This is one of the most important reasons that make one submit to his Lord and increase in piety.

The human soul inclines to transgression, errors, arrogance, laziness, idleness and sleep... it holds all things dear. This is why fasting is one of the greatest means to break the destructive desires of the soul for the sake of Allah whereby it becomes submissive, humble, reassured and devout. It hastens to obedience and seeks forgiveness, humbles and submits itself to Allah and the heart and the physical organs respond to His love and obedience and refrain from disobedience to Him.