Reflections On Ramadan And The Next Steps

SubhanAllah, walhamdulillah, wa la ilaha illallahu Allahu akbar. We are grateful to Allah (Subhanahu wa ta'ala; May He be glorified and exalted) for the blessings of witnessing the greatest month of the year and for the ability to perform good deeds. ” … He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah [i.e. to say Takbir (Allahu-Akbar; Allah is the Most Great) on seeing the crescent of the months of Ramadan and Shawwal] for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him.” [Surah al-Baqarah 2:185]

We should take some time to reflect upon the good deeds we performed and ask Allah to accept it from us. Some of the salaf’s used to pray for 6 months after Ramadan for their actions to be accepted, and another 6 months asking Allah to allow them to witness another Ramadan.

“O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (The fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious)" [Surah al-Baqarah 2:183]

In sha Allah we have developed Taqwa (God-Consciousness) through the fasting of Ramadan. We should now protect and nurture this gift, so that our deeds do not go to waste. We deprived ourselves from halal provisions and desires on Allah's command. This instilled a sense of confidence to be able to give up sins which we commit habitually. We also learnt patience in its many form including controlling our tongues, our limbs, our desires.

Let us now hold on to this blessing of God consciousness and ensure it isn’t squandered away. Allah praises good actions in the continuous sense and not just as something which is done as a one off. Allah wants us to be the one who are continuously engaged in good actions.

Suggested good deed

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ; peace be upon him) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan and follows it with six days of Shawwaal, it will be as if he fasted for a lifetime.” [Narrated by Muslim]