Time is a very valuable asset. If we do not make the most of it, we will regret it later. Remorse is a great punishment which a person will experience in the Hereafter. Allah ta'ala will remind such a person that He granted them many bounties, gifts and opportunities in life, but he kept wasting them.
One will regret that he did not understand the importance of dhikr and prayer. He will regret making his life in the world his main objective and he will plead Allah ta'ala for a chance to return to the world and fulfil his responsibilities.
We should not waste time. Allah ta'ala has granted us this month which has no connection with fasting, nor is fasting the objective of Ramadan. Through merely fasting, a person has not achieved the objective of Ramadan. Fasting is a means and a resource to complete the objective. It is just a form of assistance from Allah ta'ala. The main objective is to attain Taqwa through it and fasting helps to attain Taqwa. Even if one attained a small amount of Taqwa, he has benefited otherwise, his fasting has done nothing for him.
Without Taqwa, one cannot attain nearness to Allah ta'ala and enter Paradise. This is why Allah ta'ala made the act of fasting compulsory to all the nations before us too.
As long as we are alive, we must perform the same actions outside Ramadan. Ramadan never ends for a believer because he is constantly striving to attain the objective of Taqwa.
What is Taqwa?
Taqwa refers to being aware and developing the fear of Allah ta'ala's displeasure.
Without this fear, we commit sins and become distant from Allah ta'ala. If we have this fear or it is weakened, we become the disobedient servant of Allah ta'ala and we become distant from Him.
Without fear, we are immodest. The previous nations were destroyed by Allah ta'ala when they committed sins even though the Messengers came to remind them and instil fear within them.
After the Prophets, the AwliyahAllah were sent for the same task. They generate the fear through dhikr with love and affection. They revive the society and allow the colour of the deen and taqwa to impact the believers.
In various places in the Quran, Allah ta'ala has mentioned the punishments which were given to the previous nations. If we live like them, there is no difference between us and them. We should take heed from those events.
The reason we sin and we abandon prayer, is because the fear of Allah ta'ala has been removed from us.
Fasting was given to us to develop the fear of Allah ta'ala and to acknowledge our wrongdoing.
During fasting, the things which were Halal for us become unlawful for us. If we adhere to these rules, we are rewarded. All of us have the consciousness of Allah ta'ala whilst fasting which is why we do not violate our fast. This is because Allah ta'ala has granted us the capacity through fasting to develop the fear.
After Ramadan, we should assess whether we have the fear of Allah ta'ala within us. This is the true achievement.
Some of us have the knowledge yet, we fail to attend the mosque for prayers. It is because our knowledge hasn't developed fear within us. It is not necessary that knowledge develops fear within a person. Thus, after seeking knowledge and learning the Quran, we must develop the fear through fasting.
In the Quran, Allah ta'ala has addressed two types of people. The general people and the believers.
What is the difference between the two?
The general people are those who are free and wandering around aimlessly. They are free and doing as they please. They are enjoying their lives and do not differentiate between lawful and unlawful.
The believers are those who are controlled as they have been purchased by Allah ta'ala. They are required to adhere to the instructions of their Maalik, The controller. If they go against this and act as they please, their owner will become angry. They will be destroyed and wiped away for following their own desires.
We are the believers and we cannot live according to our own choice. Thus, we can't live our lives according to our freedom. We have been purchased by Allah ta'ala in return for Paradise. Therefore, we must abstain from what He has made unlawful even if the entire world is indulged in it otherwise, we will punished. Allah ta'ala removes the title of 'believer' from those who disobey Him.
Fasting has been given to us to physically implement that - to remind us of who we are and what we live for.
Allah ta'ala does not expect us to become perfect and angelic, however, we must bring some changes in to our lives.
Allah ta'ala has made us recite twenty rakat of Taraweeh every night. We come running to attend and we enjoy it. We fulfil what is expected from us correctly. This is how we should always strive to be.
Allah ta'ala is not in need of our worship in high quantities. Rather, He desires us to become aware of our reality. If we can pray twenty rakat in Ramadan, we should be able to pray five times a day daily otherwise, our Ramadan has gone to waste. If we adhere to this practice we will be granted Paradise.
"If there was a river at the door of anyone of you and he took a bath in it five times a day would you notice any dirt on him?" They said, "Not a trace of dirt would be left." The Prophet (ﷺ) added, "That is the example of the five prayers with which Allah blots out (annuls) evil deeds." [Bukhari Shareef]
Prayer is a spiritual river through which we may be cleansed. The physical form of this river are the mosques.
The specialty of prayer is that when a person prays, all his sins are forgiven. We should promise Allah ta'ala that we will pray five time a day in the mosque. In return, our sins will be forgiven and when we depart this world, we will enter Paradise.
In another Hadith, it is mentioned that the one who prays Fajr in the morning and Isha in the evening, Allah ta'ala grants him Paradise.
Ramadan has demonstrated that we have the capacity to develop Taqwa. We must take hold of prayer which will lead us towards Taqwa and this will prevent us from sinning.
We must create the habit of praying within our homes. Many mercies come through prayer and as a result, our children’s deen are protected. The angels safeguard those homes in which prayers are performed.
Prayers protects from magic, jinns, evil eye and evil thoughts. If a person performs prayer, he won't be affected by any evil thoughts of the world.
If the desire of prayer has been developed within us, then Taqwa has been instilled within us. Such a person has attained Ramadan and it has been accepted for him.
Time is a very valuable asset. If we do not make the most of it, we will regret it later. Remorse is a great punishment which a person will experience in the Hereafter. Allah ta'ala will remind such a person that He granted them many bounties, gifts and opportunities in life, but he kept wasting them.
One will regret that he did not understand the importance of dhikr and prayer. He will regret making his life in the world his main objective and he will plead Allah ta'ala for a chance to return to the world and fulfil his responsibilities.
We should not waste time. Allah ta'ala has granted us this month which has no connection with fasting, nor is fasting the objective of Ramadan. Through merely fasting, a person has not achieved the objective of Ramadan. Fasting is a means and a resource to complete the objective. It is just a form of assistance from Allah ta'ala. The main objective is to attain Taqwa through it and fasting helps to attain Taqwa. Even if one attained a small amount of Taqwa, he has benefited otherwise, his fasting has done nothing for him.
Without Taqwa, one cannot attain nearness to Allah ta'ala and enter Paradise. This is why Allah ta'ala made the act of fasting compulsory to all the nations before us too.
As long as we are alive, we must perform the same actions outside Ramadan. Ramadan never ends for a believer because he is constantly striving to attain the objective of Taqwa.
What is Taqwa?
Taqwa refers to being aware and developing the fear of Allah ta'ala's displeasure.
Without this fear, we commit sins and become distant from Allah ta'ala. If we have this fear or it is weakened, we become the disobedient servant of Allah ta'ala and we become distant from Him.
Without fear, we are immodest. The previous nations were destroyed by Allah ta'ala when they committed sins even though the Messengers came to remind them and instil fear within them.
After the Prophets, the AwliyahAllah were sent for the same task. They generate the fear through dhikr with love and affection. They revive the society and allow the colour of the deen and taqwa to impact the believers.
In various places in the Quran, Allah ta'ala has mentioned the punishments which were given to the previous nations. If we live like them, there is no difference between us and them. We should take heed from those events.
The reason we sin and we abandon prayer, is because the fear of Allah ta'ala has been removed from us.
Fasting was given to us to develop the fear of Allah ta'ala and to acknowledge our wrongdoing.
During fasting, the things which were Halal for us become unlawful for us. If we adhere to these rules, we are rewarded. All of us have the consciousness of Allah ta'ala whilst fasting which is why we do not violate our fast. This is because Allah ta'ala has granted us the capacity through fasting to develop the fear.
After Ramadan, we should assess whether we have the fear of Allah ta'ala within us. This is the true achievement.
Some of us have the knowledge yet, we fail to attend the mosque for prayers. It is because our knowledge hasn't developed fear within us. It is not necessary that knowledge develops fear within a person. Thus, after seeking knowledge and learning the Quran, we must develop the fear through fasting.
In the Quran, Allah ta'ala has addressed two types of people. The general people and the believers.
What is the difference between the two?
The general people are those who are free and wandering around aimlessly. They are free and doing as they please. They are enjoying their lives and do not differentiate between lawful and unlawful.
The believers are those who are controlled as they have been purchased by Allah ta'ala. They are required to adhere to the instructions of their Maalik, The controller. If they go against this and act as they please, their owner will become angry. They will be destroyed and wiped away for following their own desires.
We are the believers and we cannot live according to our own choice. Thus, we can't live our lives according to our freedom. We have been purchased by Allah ta'ala in return for Paradise. Therefore, we must abstain from what He has made unlawful even if the entire world is indulged in it otherwise, we will punished. Allah ta'ala removes the title of 'believer' from those who disobey Him.
Fasting has been given to us to physically implement that - to remind us of who we are and what we live for.
Allah ta'ala does not expect us to become perfect and angelic, however, we must bring some changes in to our lives.
Allah ta'ala has made us recite twenty rakat of Taraweeh every night. We come running to attend and we enjoy it. We fulfil what is expected from us correctly. This is how we should always strive to be.
Allah ta'ala is not in need of our worship in high quantities. Rather, He desires us to become aware of our reality. If we can pray twenty rakat in Ramadan, we should be able to pray five times a day daily otherwise, our Ramadan has gone to waste. If we adhere to this practice we will be granted Paradise.
"If there was a river at the door of anyone of you and he took a bath in it five times a day would you notice any dirt on him?" They said, "Not a trace of dirt would be left." The Prophet (ﷺ) added, "That is the example of the five prayers with which Allah blots out (annuls) evil deeds." [Bukhari Shareef]
Prayer is a spiritual river through which we may be cleansed. The physical form of this river are the mosques.
The specialty of prayer is that when a person prays, all his sins are forgiven. We should promise Allah ta'ala that we will pray five time a day in the mosque. In return, our sins will be forgiven and when we depart this world, we will enter Paradise.
In another Hadith, it is mentioned that the one who prays Fajr in the morning and Isha in the evening, Allah ta'ala grants him Paradise.
Ramadan has demonstrated that we have the capacity to develop Taqwa. We must take hold of prayer which will lead us towards Taqwa and this will prevent us from sinning.
We must create the habit of praying within our homes. Many mercies come through prayer and as a result, our children’s deen are protected. The angels safeguard those homes in which prayers are performed.
Prayers protects from magic, jinns, evil eye and evil thoughts. If a person performs prayer, he won't be affected by any evil thoughts of the world.
If the desire of prayer has been developed within us, then Taqwa has been instilled within us. Such a person has attained Ramadan and it has been accepted for him.
May Allah ta'ala allow us to implement. Ameen