While saying goodbye to Ramadan, each one of us should ask these questions: What have I gained from this month? Have I passed the test?
By Dr. Main Al-Qudah
Yesterday, Muslims were waiting for Ramadan, however, today they are saying goodbye to it, as if this month were moments long. And as this month passed quickly, life does, and so people die and move to the hereafter.
The end of Ramadan reminds us about the closeness of death. The end of Ramadan reminds us with the saying of the Prophet (Pbuh), “Live in this world like a stranger or a by-passer”.
Ibn Omar used to say, “If you wake up, don’t wait for the evening, and if you reach the evening, don’t wait for the morning. Take advantage of your good health and your life.
While saying goodbye to Ramadan, each one of us should ask these questions: What have I gained from this month? Have I passed the test?
What is there after Ramadan? Do the lessons of Ramadan end with it, or continue after it?
Fasting: We have learned from fasting how to soften our souls and break our desires. The Prophet encouraged us to continue fasting six days during the month of Shawwal when he said, “Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan and he follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasted the whole year”. It was the tradition of the Prophet also to fast on Mondays and Thursdays.
Praying Taraweeh: Praying at night was the habit of the Prophet, and he used to encourage his followers to do so. He said, “Do qiyam-ul-lail, the night prayer; it used to be the good deeds of the pious people before you. It draws you closer to your Lord, it causes your sins to be forgiven, and it causes you to avoid doing bad deeds”.
The recitation of the Quran: You must not stop reading the Quran after Ramadan, otherwise you will be among those whom the Prophet described as Allah says, “And the messenger said, ‘O my Lord! Verily my people have deserted this Quran”.
Charity: Allah says, “those who spend their wealth day and night, secretly and publicly, their reward is with their lord”. Spending from your wealth will benefit you in your life and in the hereafter.
Abandoning sins: Abandoning sins is a must in Ramadan and after it also. You have to be conscious of your words, actions and deeds every moment.
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