Bismillah, alhamdulillah, wa salatu wa salamu \u2018ala Rasoolillah, wa \u2018ala alihi wa sahbihi wa man wala. Amma ba\u2019ad.<\/p>\n
Allah \ufdfb tells us in the Qur\u2019an about Ramadan in verses that many of us recite each year. They begin with:<\/p>\n
\n“\u064a\u064e\u0627 \u0623\u064e\u064a\u064f\u0651\u0647\u064e\u0627 \u0627\u0644\u064e\u0651\u0630\u0650\u064a\u0646\u064e \u0622\u0645\u064e\u0646\u064f\u0648\u0627”<\/strong>
“O you who believe!”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nOne of the companions (radiAllahu \u2018anhu) said that whenever you hear this phrase in the Qur\u2019an, pay close attention. Why? Because what follows is either a command towards something good\u2014khayr<\/em>\u2014or a prohibition from something evil\u2014sharr<\/em>.<\/p>\n
\nThe Command to Fast<\/h3>\n
Allah \ufdfb says:<\/p>\n
\n“\u064a\u064e\u0627 \u0623\u064e\u064a\u064f\u0651\u0647\u064e\u0627 \u0627\u0644\u064e\u0651\u0630\u0650\u064a\u0646\u064e \u0622\u0645\u064e\u0646\u064f\u0648\u0627 \u0643\u064f\u062a\u0650\u0628\u064e \u0639\u064e\u0644\u064e\u064a\u0652\u0643\u064f\u0645\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0635\u0650\u0651\u064a\u064e\u0627\u0645\u064f \u0643\u064e\u0645\u064e\u0627 \u0643\u064f\u062a\u0650\u0628\u064e \u0639\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0649 \u0627\u0644\u064e\u0651\u0630\u0650\u064a\u0646\u064e \u0645\u0650\u0646 \u0642\u064e\u0628\u0652\u0644\u0650\u0643\u064f\u0645\u0652 \u0644\u064e\u0639\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0651\u0643\u064f\u0645\u0652 \u062a\u064e\u062a\u064e\u0651\u0642\u064f\u0648\u0646\u064e”<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u201cO you who believe! Fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may attain taqwa<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s already written, already decreed\u2014fasting is fardh<\/em>, a compulsory obligation upon us. Just as it was upon those before us.<\/p>\n
\nFasting Across Faiths<\/h3>\n
I remember a brother who converted to Islam. During Ramadan, he attended a school gathering with various religious leaders. When he declined the food, someone from another religious group approached him and said:<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI know why you didn\u2019t eat. It\u2019s Ramadan, isn\u2019t it? You\u2019re fasting.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
The brother replied yes. Interestingly, he had converted from that man\u2019s own religion. The man then said something remarkable:<\/p>\n
\n\u201cFasting is such a noble thing to do. It\u2019s too bad our religion changed it over the years.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Many religions have remnants of fasting\u2014maybe avoiding certain drinks or foods\u2014but the tradition has been diluted over time.<\/p>\n
\nThe \u201cCriticism\u201d of Islam<\/h3>\n
People often criticize Islam by saying: \u201cYou Muslims are still practicing the same Islam from 1400 years ago.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
SubhanAllah. What a beautiful \u201ccriticism\u201d! That\u2019s exactly what we want\u2014to follow the Islam practiced by the Prophet \ufdfa and his companions.<\/p>\n
\nRamadan: A Month of Qur\u2019an and Du\u2019a<\/h3>\n
In the verses about Ramadan, there\u2019s a powerful interjection. Between the verses on fasting, Allah \ufdfb says:<\/p>\n
\n“\u0648\u064e\u0625\u0650\u0630\u064e\u0627 \u0633\u064e\u0623\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0643\u064e \u0639\u0650\u0628\u064e\u0627\u062f\u0650\u064a \u0639\u064e\u0646\u0650\u0651\u064a \u0641\u064e\u0625\u0650\u0646\u0650\u0651\u064a \u0642\u064e\u0631\u0650\u064a\u0628\u064c”<\/strong>
\u201cAnd when My servant asks you concerning Me\u2014indeed, I am near.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n“\u0623\u064f\u062c\u0650\u064a\u0628\u064f \u062f\u064e\u0639\u0652\u0648\u064e\u0629\u064e \u0627\u0644\u062f\u064e\u0651\u0627\u0639\u0650 \u0625\u0650\u0630\u064e\u0627 \u062f\u064e\u0639\u064e\u0627\u0646\u0650”<\/strong>
\u201cI respond to the du\u2019a of the supplicant when he calls upon Me.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nAllah \ufdfb will answer your du\u2019a. Every single time.<\/p>\n
\nThe Power of Du\u2019a<\/h3>\n
You might make du\u2019a for a Cadillac Escalade. And either:<\/p>\n
\n
- You get it.<\/li>\n
- You get something even better.<\/li>\n
- Allah protects you from a harm you didn\u2019t know about.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Even if your du\u2019a isn\u2019t answered in this life, it\u2019s stored for the Hereafter.<\/p>\n
The Prophet \ufdfa told us: on the Day of Judgment, when people see the stored rewards of unanswered du\u2019as, they will wish that none<\/strong> of their du\u2019as had been answered in the dunya!<\/p>\n
\nThe Cost of Du\u2019a and Intention<\/h3>\n
What does it cost to make du\u2019a? Nothing.<\/p>\n
What about making a good intention? Also nothing.<\/p>\n
But the reward? If you make a sincere intention to do good, it\u2019s recorded as if you did it<\/strong>. And if you actually do it? You get 10 times<\/strong> the reward.<\/p>\n
Imagine the power of simply sitting down and making lofty intentions:<\/p>\n
\n
- \u201cI want to build 1,000 masjids.”<\/li>\n
- \u201cI want to donate a billion dollars to da\u2019wah.\u201d<\/li>\n
- \u201cI want to bring a thousand people back to Allah.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Even if only 1% of people fulfilled those intentions, our community would be transformed.<\/p>\n
\nDon\u2019t Let Others Deflate Your Intentions<\/h3>\n
Sometimes when you make big intentions, someone will say, \u201cThat\u2019ll never work. Be realistic.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
That kind of mindset deflates ambition. But the Sahaba didn\u2019t think like that. In fact, the Battle of Badr<\/strong> happened during Ramadan<\/strong>. And what did they do? They fasted and fought.<\/p>\n
The Prophet \ufdfa made du\u2019a:<\/p>\n
\n\u201cO Allah, if this group is destroyed, You will not be worshipped on Earth.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Ramadan wasn\u2019t just about fasting\u2014it was about striving.<\/p>\n
\nThe Spectators and the Participants<\/h3>\n
Masajid are packed on:<\/p>\n
\n
- The first night of Ramadan.<\/li>\n
- The last 10 nights.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
These are the spectators<\/em>\u2014the ones watching from the sidelines. But the real participants<\/em> are in the masjid every night. They push through, read Qur\u2019an while others sip tea, and spend time feeding others\u2014not just feeding themselves.<\/p>\n
\nShahr al-\u2018It\u2019am vs. Shahr al-Ta\u2019am<\/h3>\n
Ramadan is Shahr al-\u2018It\u2019am<\/strong>\u2014the month of feeding others. But many of us have made it Shahr al-Ta\u2019am<\/strong>\u2014the month of eating!<\/p>\n
There’s so much pressure, especially on our sisters, to raise food quality. But is that the essence of Ramadan? Going to dinner parties? Eating more than usual?<\/p>\n
The Prophet \ufdfa performed i\u2019tikaf<\/em> in Ramadan\u2014not social dinners. In his last Ramadan, he did 20 days<\/strong> of i\u2019tikaf.<\/p>\n
\nNo More Excuses<\/h3>\n
People often say:<\/p>\n
\n
- \u201cI can\u2019t go to the masjid daily.\u201d<\/em>
But in Ramadan, they show up every night.<\/li>\n- \u201cI can\u2019t pray Qiyam\u2014it\u2019s too hard.\u201d<\/em>
Yet during Ramadan, they wake up early for Suhoor and Qiyam.<\/li>\n- \u201cI can\u2019t live without coffee or cigarettes.\u201d<\/em>
But in Ramadan? They go cold turkey from dawn to dusk.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nThe same goes for Qur\u2019an. A person might read nothing all year, but in Ramadan they finish the entire Qur\u2019an.<\/p>\n
\nTraining the Soul<\/h3>\n
Fasting trains the soul to obey Allah. You\u2019re avoiding things normally halal\u2014like food and drink\u2014because Allah said so.<\/p>\n
After Ramadan, avoiding haram<\/strong> becomes easier. Ramadan is about developing taqwa<\/strong> through spiritual training.<\/p>\n
\nWhat Makes a Ramadan Unforgettable?<\/h3>\n
Try to remember a Ramadan you\u2019ll never forget. What made it unforgettable?<\/p>\n
For most people, it\u2019s tied to Taraweeh<\/strong>:<\/p>\n
\n
- A special imam.<\/li>\n
- A deep focus.<\/li>\n
- Consistent attendance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
But what if that imam isn\u2019t there next year? Will you give up? No. You have to be the one who brings the focus\u2014you extract the benefit<\/strong>, not wait for it.<\/p>\n
\nBehind the Scenes: Life of the Imam<\/h3>\n
Let me take you backstage\u2014what is Ramadan like for the imam<\/strong>?<\/p>\n
\n
- After Fajr<\/strong>: Reviewing Qur\u2019an while everyone else sleeps.<\/li>\n
- Daytime<\/strong>: Resting intentionally to preserve energy for night prayers.<\/li>\n
- Afternoon<\/strong>: More Qur\u2019an review.<\/li>\n
- Iftar<\/strong>: Light meal. If he eats too much, he can\u2019t<\/em> lead Taraweeh. He might literally vomit\u2014no joke.<\/li>\n
- Taraweeh<\/strong>: Complete concentration.<\/li>\n
- Post-Taraweeh<\/strong>: Brief rest. Then the cycle continues.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Why? Because the Qur\u2019an is his priority.<\/p>\n
\nBe Like the Imam<\/h3>\n
Whether you\u2019re leading or not, you can live like the imam<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
Let Ramadan become a month of:<\/p>\n
\n
- Qur\u2019an<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Discipline<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Du\u2019a<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Intention<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Ibadah<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
You can even aim to memorize 10 ajza\u2019<\/strong> this Ramadan. It\u2019s not impossible. People have done it.<\/p>\n
\nFinal Thoughts<\/h3>\n
Don\u2019t be the person who shows up at the airport and says, \u201cI haven\u2019t decided where to go yet.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
If you don\u2019t know your destination, you\u2019ll go nowhere.<\/p>\n
Make your intention now. Plan your Ramadan today. Prioritize Qur\u2019an and ibadah above all else. And with Allah\u2019s help, you\u2019ll make this Ramadan unforgettable.<\/p>\n
\nJazakum Allahu Khayran.<\/strong>
May Allah grant us all a truly epic Ramadan. Ameen.<\/p>\nRelated:<\/strong><\/p>\n
Ramadan Duaa Series: The Greatest Delight<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n