Ramadhan is a month that is best known for its virtues and superiority compared to the other months of the year. It is reported from the early generations of Muslims, also known as the pious predecessors, pray to Allah after Ramadhan for their Ramadhan good deeds to be accepted by Allah. It is also known from them that it is their belief that one of the signs that one’s good deeds are accepted is when one becomes a better person after his performance of a major good deed like fasting in Ramadhan. This iswhy the end of Ramadhan should not be the end of the performance of acts of worship and other good deeds.
Because of this, a Muslim should feel humble and greatly indebted to Allah’s generosity that he feels
that the only rightful action after Ramadhan is the performance of more good deeds after Ramadhan. A
Muslim knows that his performance of good deeds in Ramadhan is a favor conferred upon him by Allah
that He has not bestowed onto others who may have already passed away or have squandered the
limited days and night of Ramadhan in the non-performance of good deeds or even in sin.
COMPLACENCY OF THE HYPOCRITES
For humans, we have an inclination to celebrate the success or triumph that we achieve in life with
complacency. Most Muslims, unfortunately, suffer from this illusion. Most Muslims feel that because of
their performance of good deeds during Ramadhan, they have already collected enough merits for them
to stop performing acts of worship or much worse, they feel like they are now licensed to sin for having
worshipped Allah during Ramadhan.
This illusion could only be possessed by hypocrites who believe that Allah owes them a great deal by
having worshipped him in Ramadhan. The feeling of entitlement that they deserve every bit of reward
or blessing or even acceptance in Paradise because of the meager acts of worship they did during
Ramadhan.
But real Muslims are not like this. Real Muslims continuously feel humble towards Allah. Real Muslims feel that they need Allah every day of their lives and that is the reason why they worship Allah even beyond Ramadhan. They know that even beyond Ramadhan, Allah sends them rain, air, provisions and blessings and that is why they remain vigilant in worshipping Allah who is not only the Lord Provider during Ramadhan but is the Lord Provider of all times.
Real Muslims know that they should worship Allah until death overtakes them and that they should
strive that they would not die except in the state of being Muslims. Real Muslims stay in the straight
path by doing acts of worship that will strengthen their faith. Real Muslims strive to perform all manners of good deeds whether big or small. Real Muslims try hard to please Allah.
For the hypocrite, who fancies himself to be a Muslim, he strives in the performance of major acts of worship in Islam such as Hajj and good deeds in Ramadhan in order to make himself feel good about it.
These major acts of worship make him feel less guilty of the big sins he may committing such as the
abandonment of daily obligatory prayers, fornication, drinking alcohol or even polytheism.
THE SOLUTION
This is the reality of most Muslims who disappear after Ramadhan. They never really did anything in
Ramadhan in faith but rather with an enterprising state of mind only. Ramadhan Muslims would only do something for Allah, not because for the love for Allah, but because they wanted something in return
–they usually want something that they do not fully deserve. And all these must be changed.
DEVELOP YOUR LOVE OF ALLAH: Developing your love for Allah begins by knowing Allah. By knowing
Allah’s powers, we feel our own weakness and admit it and in order for us to rely more upon Him as our
Lord and Sustainer. Knowing about Allah’s mercy makes us feel our need to ask for His blessings and the assurance that His help is always near for those who need it. Knowing Allah’s punishment make us avoid those that which He has forbidden.
By developing the love for Allah, it is only for Him that we do acts of worship, daily dealings and every
kind of random good deeds and kindness. By loving Allah, we become sincere to do good deeds for His
sake alone and not for the sake of popularity, influence or any material benefit.
DEVELOP YOUR LOVE FOR THE PROPHET OF ALLAH: Knowing Prophet Muhammad is part of the religion
as this religion was taught to us by Allah through the example of Prophet Muhammad. His prophethood
of 23 years was replete with stories and lessons that still apply today even in the information age. His
patience, dedication, and devotion could be hard to match as he is the best human being that Allah has
created but what a great role model is he even if we only strive to meet even a fraction of his standards
of character and manners.
DEVELOP YOUR LOVE FOR THE RELIGION: This is achieved by knowing this religion. It is sad to note that most Muslims think that Islam is only about the avoidance of consuming pork and everything else is
arbitrary, including acts of worship. By knowing this religion, you become aware of the least that a
Muslim could do in order for him to be among those who deserve Allah’s Paradise. You become aware
of the acts of worship, good deeds to be done, and sins to be avoided.
By knowing and loving your religion, you become proud that you are a follower of the religion of the
prophets that is being taught by the prophets starting from Adam, the first prophet and the last prophet Muhammad.
Fortunately, all these three things are being taught to us by our Islamic preachers and these are the
three things on which this religion is founded. These shall also be the questions that each human shall
be asked about in the grave.
