By Babatunde Jose
During this holy month of Ramadan, all mosques have been recording a huge increase in worshippers; spiritual contemplation and acts of charity have increased; ties of brotherhood strengthened; angers and tempers subsided, and an atmosphere of peace has prevailed. If only these could continue after Ramadan, the Ummah and the country would be a better place. But lo, the evil machinations of man will gather speed once again and the march towards perdition will be renewed with vigor. It would be as if the Ramadan fast was an interlude in our inglorious life, making the whole sacrifice unworthy and an exercise in futility. This would be a great shame.
Already, we have it on good authority that there are plans afoot to celebrate the end of Ramadan with roaring rainfall. All over the metropolis arrangements are in top gear for the end of Ramadan parties. From Agarawu to Ricca, down to Okepopo, Oshodi, Freeman and Lafiaji, and all the ‘palaces’ on the Island chairs and canopies are being rented and all the tools and accessories of stormy weather are being iced. This is Lagos, land of Aquatic Splendor. But must it be like this?
We should resolve to be steadfast in the good habits acquired during the holy month of Ramadan.
Muslims should be bold enough to admit that many of their problems are created by themselves. To admit this is the first step toward solving the numerous problems facing the Muslim Ummah. We, as Muslims, are obliged to follow the teachings of the Holy Quran and the life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). I believe that the only solution to our present difficulties is to read, understand and follow the teachings of the Quran in its proper perspective. Fasting is not merely abstention from food and drink; it is a temporary cessation of eating and drinking which enables attention to be directed to higher things and thus making the fast more meaningful; like kindness and goodness of which Mark Twain said: “Goodness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”
Let us pray that as we approach the end of this holy month of Ramadan, a sincere effort will be made by all Muslims to come closer to Almighty Allah through prayers, compassion, forgiveness, empathy, Zakat, and charity: And, through hard work, let us make this a better world for us and our children.
This is particularly important for our leaders, as Simon Kolawole admonished in his column: “I think our leaders need to have a genuine conversation with their consciences. As they bask in the sunshine from the balconies of their yachts, they need to ask themselves if this is the reward for our love. As they lavish billions of naira to arrange weddings for their sons and daughters and designer-cars for their wives, they need to examine their consciences. The reckless display of wealth in the midst of poverty is an insult upon injury. Nigerians are justified to expect the dividends of democracy.”
And while doing our duty by our fellow man, our families, children, and community, let us pray:
Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Blot out our sins and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. Thou art our Protector; Help us against those who stand against faith. (Quran 2:286)
O Almighty Allah help us attain the true spirit and essence of Ramadan and accept our fasting. Ameen!
What have we gained from Ramadan? Have we been spiritually rejuvenated, recharged, and reengineered? Has it been morally fulfilling? Have we been able to shed many of our iniquitous baggage? Have we relinquished the sins of fornication, covetousness, and a life of deceit? Have we been able to move nearer God in an atmosphere of God-consciousness? Have we been doing the needful in our homes and to our fellow man? Have we given the orphan his due? Have we entrenched Justice, Fairness, and Equity in our daily living?
What about compassion and empathy? Do we feel the pains of our fellowmen, our subjects, and followers? Have we taken steps to right the wrongs we brought on the people around us? Have we been fair to our wives, children, relations, and neighbors? Are we satisfied with our new lease of spiritual awakening? Must all the gains of Ramadan end today? Are we returning to our old ways of cheating, backbiting, slander, and wickedness?
Today is therefore, a day of decisions. Are we going to consolidate on the gains of Ramadan or descend back into the abyss of a sinful life? The choice is ours. Ihdinas siraatal Mustaqeem.
Ramadan has rightly been described as a school of Iman and a stop to recharge our spiritual batteries. Must we allow that battery to die by going back to the old ways? The choice is ours.
Unfortunately, the fall and descent into a life of sin and iniquity starts a few days after Ramadan; when we say ‘fasting is finished, the nightly prayers are over; the group gatherings to break the fast have vanished. We can eat, drink, and be merry again when we like.’ And that special feeling of God consciousness gradually fades away. The spiritual high evaporates, and all we are left with are the bad habits we tried to shed during Ramadan which mysteriously rear their ugly heads once it is over.
Ramadan is supposed to increase our faith and God-consciousness:
“Believers! Fasting has been prescribed for you-as it was prescribed for those before you-so that you may be conscious of God.” (Quran 2:183).
Prophet Muhammad (SAW), said: “Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions [while fasting], God is not in need of his leaving his food and drink.”
Ramadan is a month of training for us so that we may become doers of good and refrain from evil throughout the year. Each and every year this blessed month helps to train us to become better Muslims.
Many of us did not say our prayers before Ramadan but during the blessed month we found it easier to pray. We cannot continue our lives without praying; otherwise, we are not fulfilling the purpose of our lives.
Allah says: “I have created the jinn and humankind only for My worship” (Quran; 51:56)
We will not be successful in this life or the next without prayer. The Prophet (SAW) said, “The first thing that a person will be questioned about is his prayers.” Missing prayers intentionally is so serious that it is tantamount to disbelief: The Prophet (SAW) said: “What lies between a man and disbelief is the abandonment of prayer.” (Muslim). Unfortunately, there will be many Muslims in Hell who did not say their prayers.
Many of us left the Quran on the top shelf throughout the year but when Ramadan came, we picked up the Quran and blew off the dust and began to recite it again. By returning the Quran to the bookshelf, we will be missing out on receiving intercession from the Quran on the Day of Judgment: The Prophet (SAW) says: “Recite the Holy Quran as much as you can for It will come as an intercessor for its reciter on the Day of Judgment” (Muslim)
Allah the Most High said:
Establish regular prayers–at the sun’s decline till the darkness of the night, and the morning prayer and reading: For the prayer and reading in the morning carry their testimony. And pray in the small watches of the morning: (It would be) an additional prayer (or spiritual profit) for thee: Soon will thy Lord raise thee to a Station of Praise and Glory! (Quran 17: 78-79)
During the blessed days and nights of Ramadan we were given the ability to repent and ask Allah for his mercy and forgiveness and to thank him for his infinite favors upon us. But now that Ramadan is over, we must not stop repenting to Allah for our sins and we must continue to be thankful to Allah for his infinite favors upon us.
For Allah loves those who turn to Him constantly and He loves those who keep themselves pure and clean. (Quran 2:222)
“Our Lord!” (They say), “Let not our hearts deviate now after Thou hast guided us, but grant us mercy from Thine own Presence; for Thou art the Grantor of bounties without measure.” (Quran 3:8)
Jumuah Mufeedah and Happy Eid.
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