It’s a whole LIFESTYLE

by Asma bint Shameem

🍃 Ibn Rajab said:

“The ENTIRE DUNYA is a month of “fasting” for the muttaqeen, and their “Eid al-fitr” is the day of MEETING their LORD.

And most of the days of “fasting” have already passed, and the “Eid” of meeting (meaning DEATH) is swiftly approaching.”

🍃And some of the Salaf said:

“Fast this dunya and make your breaking of the fast, “death”.

The entire dunya is a month of fasting for the muttaqeen, and they fast from their unlawful desires.

So when death comes, it has completed their month of fasting and ushered in their ‘Eid al-Fitr.

Whoever fasts from his desires “today”, breaks that fast after his death.”

(Lataa’if al-Ma’aarif pg 85 and 278)

Brothers and sisters,

Let us REFLECT on these WORDS OF WISDOM.

Ramadhaan is not just ONE month of fasting for us.

It's a WHOLE LIFESTYLE.

You lived that lifestyle for an ENTIRE month.

And now you MUST live it BEYOND that.

Have the resolve and determination to do that which is pleasing to Allaah.

Keep up the recitation of the Qur’aan.

Keep up with the night prayers...

The sadaqah...

The duaas...

All the good deeds.

Control those eyes, ears, tongue.

Stay away from all sin.

Have the courage to CHALLENGE yourself.... the courage to CHANGE your bad habits...

To admit your mistakes...

To become a better person...

A better Muslim.

As the saying goes...

“The brave person is not the one who doesn't fear.

The brave person is the one who FACES his fear...and CONQUERS it.”

So step out of your comfort zone and take on a new task to LIVE the lifestyle of Ramadhaan.

Set new goals for yourself, and work hard to achieve them.

Grow as a person and work on self-improvement.

You did it for a WHOLE MONTH.

You must do it for the REST of your LIFE.

🔺How to be steadfast upon goodness after Ramadhaan?🔺

Someone asked Shaykh Sa'd ash-Shithree at the Haram after his explanation of Sunan Abi Dawud,

"How do we remain upon khayr (a good state, goodness) after Ramadhaan?"

🍃 The Shaykh said:

“There are certain actions one can perform that will allow him/her to attain many rewards:

🌷1. Acknowledge the blessings of Allaah upon you.

One of the major goals of Ramadhaan  is for a person to recognize and show gratitude for these blessings. 

🍃 Allaah said,

‎شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

"The month of Ramadhaan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’aan, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion...Allaah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allaah for that [to] which He has guided you,

and perhaps you will be grateful." (Surah am-Baqarah 2: 185)

-Recognize the health Allaah has granted you. 

(Alhamdulillaah we don’t need a machine to breathe or a wheelchair to move around. Alhamdulillaah He’s granted us a sound mind... eyes to see, ears to hear with, a heart to feel.)

-Recognize what Allaah has blessed you with of wealth, family, friends...

-Recognize that Allaah has guided us to Islaam

(What could be a greater blessing than that?!

Allaahu Akbar...a chance to be saved from HellFire...)

-Recognize Allaah has granted you success in having the desire to practice Islaam and the Sunnah...

(Then we MUST be grateful to Him for these blessings by submitting ourselves to His Orders and devoting ourselves in His worship, living a life of obedience to Him, staying away from all He has prohibited. 

We must  pray 5 times a day, spend for the sake of Allaah, speak the truth, be upright in our character, be good to our parents, family, neighbors, the list goes on....)

🌷2. Have sincerity in all actions.

Think about the intentions for every action you do, no matter how small they might be. 

Will it bring you closer to Allaah or no? 

If yes, make sure it is sincerely for His sake. 

🌷3. Perform all of your acts of worship with perfection (ihsaan) by paying full attention to what you are saying and doing while knowing that Allaah is watching you. 

This is a means of obtaining tremendous rewards.

🌷4. Preserve the limbs against disobeying Allaah.

Guard your tongue against backbiting others, guard your eyes and ears against looking and listening to haraam, protect your hands and feet from disobedience (as they will testify for or against you on the Last Day). 

In turn, the reward is the HIGHEST ABODE IN PARADISE.

‎قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ (1) الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ (2) وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنِ اللَّغْوِ مُعْرِضُونَ (3) وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِلزَّكَاةِ فَاعِلُونَ (4) وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ (5) إِلَّا عَلَىٰ أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ (6) فَمَنِ ابْتَغَىٰ وَرَاءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْعَادُونَ (7) وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَانَاتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَاعُونَ (8) وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ (9) أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْوَارِثُونَ (10) الَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ الْفِرْدَوْسَ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ (11)

"Successful indeed are the believers: those who humble themselves in prayer; those who avoid idle talk; those who pay alms-tax; those who guard their chastity Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they will not be blamed - but whoever seeks beyond that are the transgressors; ˹the believers are also˺ those who are true to their trusts and covenants; and those who are ˹properly˺ observant of their prayers. These are the ones who will be awarded Paradise as their own. They will be there forever." (Mu'minun: 1-11)

🌷5. Safeguard and uphold the obligations of the Deen

with the most important (after the Shahaadah) being the Salaah (five daily prayers)

🌷 6. Avoid evil thoughts and suspicions of others

and do not discredit their intentions.

🌷 7. Constantly remember Allaah

‎وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

 "...and remember Allaah abundantly, so that you may be successful." (8:45)

The Shaykh mentioned that there is a difference between نَجَاح and فَلَاح and the former (najaah) takes the meaning of being successful in one particular affair while the latter (falaah) takes the meaning of being successful in ALL affairs (this is why in the adhaan it is said “come to FALAAH”).

May Allaah keep us steadfast and enable us to implement goodness even after Ramadhaan. 

And Allaah knows best.