Farewell Ramadhan

Ramadhan has gone by but the sweetness still can be felt. I have read a quote somewhere that Ramadhan month is like Yusuf (AS). Yaqub (AS) has 12 sons but Yusuf (AS) is the most beloved of all. For some muslims Ramadhan is like a month of trial. They will do their best to rectify their actions. They start to pray on time, recite Al Quran everyday, do dhikr, and do many other good deeds. Their Imaan will raise during this month. For some other people, Ramadhan is the only month they are practicing true Islam. Suddenly, people who never pray before, become obedient. They start to fast, pray five times a day, and do other good deeds, for that month only. After Ramadhan passes, they will be non practicing muslims again. And there is the last group. Some people who do not even feel the spirit of Ramadhan. They do not fast and do not pray five times a day. Or they fast but do not perform prayers. This month is just like another month for them, nothing special. However, on the day of Eid, they will be the first one to say Eid Mubarak. I pray that we are not among the second and third categories. I pray that we all raise our Imaan after a month of intensive worship to Allah. I pray that our sins are forgiven and we become people of jannah. Ameen.

There are many things we will miss from Ramadhan. Though the fasting and taraweeh and other deeds are for some of us considered hard, yet people still look forward to meeting this month in the following year. I do miss Ramadhan though it is only like two days away. And what do I miss?

- Iftaar (fasting break)

Some people say you have a wonderful meal when you can dine in a luxurious restaurant. Or when you can eat anything you like whenever you like. But someone who has observed fasting must all agree that the best meal eaten is when you break your fast. When Athan is announced, you take a glass of water and say a dua, every drop of water flowing inside your throat is such a bless. Eventhough you have only dates for iftaar, you will feel content with that. That's the best meal you've ever had. Moreover, there is a good reward that when you can give some foods to other person, you will get the same reward of one day fasting. My friends and I were competing on this last time. I said to her, this day is my time to treat you Iftaar. And she said, okay the next day will be my turn. We also distributed dates to our neighbors for fasting break. This is the blessing that I will always miss during Ramadhan. Fasting teaches us to share our wealth to our neighbors or the needy. It also teaches us to be content with what we have and reminds us that there are people who are starving out there and we have to feel their pain as well.

- Du'a (supplication)

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, "Everyday and night of Ramadhan Allah sets free a great number of souls from Jahannam. And for every muslim during everyday and night there is a time when his dua is certainly accepted".

If a beggar is allowed to ask anything for a month, would he make a wish list? Would he perform the best language so that the giver will be willing to give his wealth? SURELY. Allah has promised that any Ramadhan dua will be accepted. Therefore many muslims make a lot of dua to The Lord. If a dua is like a bubble, I am sure there will be a lot of bubbles flying out in the sky in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening, and in the last third part of night during Ramadhan. The tears fell down from our eyes are blessings. The moment is so sacred that we can't hold our tears. This is the moment when we feel really close to The Creator. You also have tranquility and trust because He has promised us that our duas will be accepted. Insha Allah

- I'tikaf (staying in the masjid with the intention of worshipping Allah)

Masjid is the best place to worship Allah. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and the wives gave us examples to stay in the masjid during the last 10 days of Ramadhan. I want to admit that this year was my first experience of doing I'tikaf and I feel this was retreating and amazing. When you are at masjid, meaning you are with people who intend to worship Allah. You will be encouraged to do more good deeds. After Iftaar, we did Maghrib prayer in congregation and after that people began to recite Al Quran until before Taraweeh time. After Taraweeh, more Al Quran recitation. And then at 2 AM people woke up for Qiyamul lail. Imagine if you are at home, will you be able to do this? Nope for sure. Because there will be too much distraction. TV is on. Your bed seems so comfortable. Your video game is tempting. Your computer is on. Your brothers and sisters ask you to chat with them. I'tikaf secludes you from those worldly things in life. The first time experience, when I woke up in the morning, in the masjid after Fajr prayer, I was feeling so refreshed. At that time, I felt so tranquil and that dunya did not really matter anymore for me. But when you are out of that, well, welcome to dunya. 

Those three deeds can be done as well outside Ramadhan. But it will not be the same. It is because the specialty of Ramadhan. The great rewards are there for us who sincerely do our good deeds. Let me give you an analogy. Once in a year, a company must give annual leave for the employees so that they can take a break from day to day actvities in the office. It is every employees' right. It is just the same as Ramadhan. This month is our annual leave from the scarcity of spirituality, the negligance of our religion, and many other things which make our hearts hardened. When we are thinking that Ramadhan is our right, we will happily welcome it. If we don't consider it as an obligation, then we will not feel burdened.

I hope we do not only miss the special Ramadhan dishes that we can only enjoy once a year. 

May Allah accept this Ramadhan from us and give us life to see the next One! Ameen