Ramadan - Begin With End In Mind And Strive

Ramadan presents us with a tremendous opportunity to re-orientate our lives. As believers, our ultimate goal is to attain the pleasure and proximity of Allah (Subhanahu wa ta'ala; May He be glorified and exalted). The Quran and Sunnah are replete with descriptions of the rewards and blessings that await those who remain steadfast in their faith and actions.

“Surely those who say, “Our Lord is Allah,” and then remain steadfast, the angels descend upon them, saying, “Do not fear, nor grieve. Rather, rejoice in the good news of Paradise, which you have been promised. We are your supporters in this worldly life and in the Hereafter. There you will have whatever your souls desire, and there you will have whatever you ask for: an accommodation from the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful Lord.” [Surah Fussilat 41:30-32]

Allah will say to the righteous: “O tranquil soul! Return to your Lord, well pleased with Him and well pleasing to Him. So join My servants, and enter My Paradise.” [Surah Al-Fajr 89:27-30]

"Some faces that Day will be naadirah (shining and radiant), looking at their Lord." [Surah Al-Qiyaamah 75:22-23]

Abu Hurayrah (radiAllahu ‘anhu; may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the people said, "O Messenger of Allah, will we see our Lord on the Day of Resurrection?" He said, "Do you have any doubts about seeing the full moon on a cloudless night?" They said, "No." He said, "Do you have any doubts about seeing the sun on a cloudless day?" They said, "No." He said, "Then you will see your Lord in the same way." [Reported by al-Bukhari]

We are often reminded to begin a task with the end in mind, and so we can visualise the goal and establish the direction of travel. Allah (Subhanahu wa ta'ala; May He be glorified and exalted) has vividly portrayed the highest of pleasures in Jannah, which is the honour of gazing at Allah's Countenance [Surah Yunus 10:26]. We ask Allah to make us of those who are not deprived of the goodness of this month, and instead make us from those who are honoured to enter through the gates of Ar-Rayyan into paradise where the words of greetings will be “Salaam”, and bestow on us the magnificent gift of meeting our Creator in Jannah-tul Firdaws, Ameen.

As recorded in Sunan Ibn Majah, Thawban narrated that when he finished his prayer, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ; peace be upon him) would ask for forgiveness three times, then he would say: