: In the situation of (1) a Muslim who does a lot in Ramadan but returns to the exact same after vs. (2) the one who increases a little but keeps his habits after. Though both have merits we find that, in Islam, number 2 is superior because the consistent good deeds and the building of ourselves into better people is encouraged more than one month of temporary good deeds, even in Ramadan. If one can be a super Muslim in Ramadan but still build new good habits and be better after Ramadan (combining the two above) this is better than either by themselves - but what we find the vast majority of the time is those who overburden themselves usually burnout and go back to the same or sometimes less than they were before. Some of the Salaf would say that leaving Ramadan better than you were before it is a sign that your Ramadan was accepted (and the hadith mention if your fasting or qiyam is accepted you are forgiven your past sins). So while we must take advantage of this month it is important to also make it a stepping stone to establishing good habits that will remain with us. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded; and gain strength by worshipping in the mornings, the nights. [Bukhari 2/32] The Prophet (ﷺ) said, Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately and know that your deeds will not make you enter Paradise, and that the most beloved deed to Allahs is the most regular and constant even though it were little. [Bukhari 81/53] The Prophet (ﷺ) was asked, What deeds are loved most by Allah? He said, The most regular constant deeds even though they may be few. He added, Dont take upon yourselves, except the deeds which are within your ability. [Bukhari 81/54] There are also many ayat which speak of patience, steadfastness, consistency and similar which make these among the best characteristics and virtues of a Muslim. There are three additional points to the scenario above. 1- Most of the 50 good deeds that would be done in Ramadan would be nawafil where as many of us can still perfect our wajib acts such as being punctual with prayer, doing what perfects it (like the sunan related to it), good character and more. Anything that is wajib is multitudes more important and better to Allah than any nawafil. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, that Allah said, Whosoever shows enmity to a wali (friend) of Mine, then I have declared war against him. And My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more loved to Me than the religious duties I have obligated upon him. And My servant continues to draw near to me with nafil (supererogatory) deeds until I Love him. When I Love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, and his sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him; and were he to seek refuge with Me, I would surely grant him refuge. [Bukhari 81/91 & Nawawi 38] 2- Allah multiplies deeds done with ikhlas and ihsan from 10-700 times or more. He multiplies the deeds during the blessed month of Ramadan by 70. These multiplications are by the mercy of Allah and we receive them through pleasing Him and being sincere to Him. A good deed is not guaranteed to be accepted and equally we can not simply be mathematicians in worship. If we are following the religion strictly and sincerely than we hope to receive Allahs mercy - which is the only way that one can enter Jannah. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, There is none whose deeds alone would entitle him to get into Paradise. It was said to him: And, Allahs Messenger, not even you? Thereupon he said: Not even I, but that my Lord wraps me in Mercy. [Muslim 52/66] 3- Consistency protects us from the fluctuations of our hearts and keeps us steadfast. It is also a protection from nifaq, riya and other negative traits from entering our hearts. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, By the One, other than Whom there is no deity, verily one of you performs the actions of the people of Paradise until there is but an arms length between him and it, and that which has been written overtakes him, and so he acts with the actions of the people of the Hellfire and thus enters it; and verily one of you performs the actions of the people of the Hellfire, until there is but an arms length between him and it, and that which has been written overtakes him and so he acts with the actions of the people of Paradise and thus he enters it. [Bukhari 59/19] CONCLUSION: The companions were the best generation and we see that they did more during Ramadan than outside of it so we do not discredit increasing your good deeds during Ramadan or especially your qiyam in the last 10 nights which has specific and immense rewards. The Sunnah of our Prophet (ﷺ) was to do itikaf and to increase in Ramadan as the companions described as well. We should take every advantage of this month. But what is better than temporary benefit is permanent benefit. A forgotten purpose of Ramadan is to develop beneficial habits. Ramadan gives you an image of the Muslim you could be every day, though it may be hard to have the same motivation we should focus on permanent development. Some easy habits to build during Ramadan. 1- Sleep schedule - such as waking up before Fajr, even 30 minutes or so. During Ramadan we wake for suhoor every day. By doing this we can make wudu and both pray Fajr punctually (and the 2 rakat before it) as well as be awake during the most blessed time of the day when Allah descends and asks you to make dua so He can answer it! The Prophet (ﷺ) said, Every night when it is the last third of the night, our Lord, the Superior, the Blessed, descends to the nearest heaven and says: Is there anyone to invoke Me that I may respond to his invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone asking My forgiveness so that I may forgive him?. [Bukhari 97/120] 2- Fasting. This month you fasted every day, and it wasnt that hard - especially once you made it a habit. You can begin fasting just 3 days a month (the white days or ayawmul-beed - which is the 13,14,15th of every Islamic month) or Mondays and Thursdays. Start easy as mentioned in above hadith but make it a habit to do at least 3 days a month... and dont forget the 6 days of Shawwal! Narrated Abu Hurayra. My friend (the Prophet (ﷺ)) advised me to observe three things: (1) to fast three days a month; (2) to pray two rakat of duha (forenoon prayer, after sunrise until noon); and (3) to pray witr before sleeping. [Bukhari 30/88] The Prophet (ﷺ) said, The month of patience (Ramadan) and three days of each month is fasting for a lifetime. [Nasai 22/319, Sahih] 3- Relations with friends and family. Ramadan is a time when everyone is in good spirits and if there is enmity between you and anyone else - whether a friend or relative - this is the perfect time to reset and repair bad feelings. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, The gates of the Garden are opened on Mondays and Thursdays. Every person who does not associate anything with Allah is forgiven except for someone who has enmity between existing between him and another man. It is said, Leave these two until they make peace. [Bukhari Adab al-Mufrad 22/15, Sahih] May Allah accept our fasting and give us complete benefit from this month, ameen.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 04:44:03 +0000
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