Just mention the
word ‘Ramadan’ and Muslims around the world light up. There’s
a feeling of excitement and anticipation. People just can’t wait
until it arrives. For some, there’s actually a countdown to
the first day. Try explaining this eagerness to an average
non-Muslim and they feel totally bewildered. They stare in
disbelief when a Muslim describes the incredible peace and strength
they derive from not eating or drinking for an entire day.
They cringe at the thought of waking up before the crack of dawn to
eat a meal and standing in prayer for an hour every night for a
month. It’s just beyond their
comprehension.
The euphoria of Ramadan can only be understood or appreciated by
those who have lived and experienced it firsthand. Regardless
of how eloquently the wonders and wisdom of Ramadan are explained,
enough can never be said to truly capture the phenomenal
experience.
What exactly is it about this month of Ramadan that provokes such
genuine enthusiasm and eagerness in Muslims around the world?
Primarily, it is the obedience to Allah’s commandment to
fast. Adhering to Allah’s commands gives an individual a
strong sense of unity with the rest of the universe. Every
creature, every living thing, every planet and galaxy is in
complete submission to Allah except for human beings and jinn which
have been given free will.
The seven heavens and
the earth, and all beings therein, declare His glory: there is not
a thing but celebrates His praise; and yet you do not understand
how they declare His glory! (17:44) Therefore, when
we submit to the Will of Allah and are obedient, we become in sync
with everything that exists. This synchronism is the peak of
harmony and peace which envelops our hearts and creates a sublime
tranquility that is unparalleled with anything else.
In addition to the satisfaction we receive from obeying Allah,
there is a real urge to redeem ourselves. To correct the
past, to make amends and to purify ourselves from any sins we have
committed either knowingly or unknowingly. The ardent
devotedness to repent from all of our shortcomings and to embrace
all the acts of worship which will cleanse our hearts is truly
awe-inspiring.
When we critically reflect on the past year without the usual
justifications and excuses about our laziness in worship, the
injustices we have committed to our loved ones, the ungratefulness
of all our extraordinary blessings and the careless ways we have
spent our time, money and effort, then and only then can we wash
away the sins with the tears of regret begging Allah for His Mercy
and His Forgiveness with fervent supplication.
Say: “O My slaves
who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds
and sins), Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: verily, Allah
forgives all sins. Truly He is Oft-Forgiving, Most
Merciful. (39:53)
As we attempt to mend the mistakes of the past, we gain new insight
and motivation to improve ourselves and to strive to earn as many
good deeds as possible with the remainder of our lives. We
earnestly pray with more concentration, read pages and pages of the
Quran effortlessly and we mindfully avoid even the smallest sins in
fear of invalidating our fast.
This revived zeal is fueled by the knowledge that Allah Most
Merciful multiplies our good deeds exponentially during the blessed
month of Ramadan. The night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is
better than a thousand months. (98:3) It is in
similitude to having our wages increased significantly for a period
of time. With an increase in wages we would work long hours
yearning to work overtime in order to reap the financial
rewards. The marathon of earning the most spiritual rewards
becomes an unstoppable passion which begins to fortify our personal
growth.Compete in good
deeds (5:48)
But as for him who
feared standing before his Lord, and restrained himself from impure
evil desires and lusts. Verily, Paradise will be his
abode. (79:40,41) Respect is a result of congruency
between our knowledge of the truth and our actions. When we
act in accordance to our beliefs, we gain psychological, emotional
and spiritual harmony.
With an improved relationship with Allah through worship and a new
awareness of our inner strength, we are naturally drawn to our
family and friends to share the joy and enlightenment we have
experienced. The frequent dinner invitations help nurture the
love and benevolence amongst us. This pure, unadulterated love for
the sake of Allah will help us attain a higher status on the Day of
Judgment.
“Allah the Exalted will
declare on the Day of Resurrection: ‘Where are those who loved each
other for the sake of My Grace? This Day, I shall shade them under
My Shade, when there is only My Shade.’”
(Muslim) Attending the congregational prayers at the
mosque regularly increases the sense of unity and Muslim
pride. As we see our friends and acquaintances fill every
inch of the mosque, shedding tears of remorse and hope,
our iman (faith) gets recharged
and we view our life in a whole new paradigm. We celebrate this new
perspective and our successful journey in self-purification and
introspection by gathering for the Eid prayer, which is the
culmination of the rituals of Ramadan.
It is the synergy of worship, commitment, improvement and unity
that leads to such a phenomenal experience during Ramadan.
It is no wonder why so many Muslims around the world beam with
excitement when approaching this blessed month. If up until
now the only focus has been to refrain from eating and drinking,
let us embrace it this year wholeheartedly to acquire its riches,
for this may be our very last Ramadan.