WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT RAMADAN (FINAL EPISODE)


WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT RAMADAN

By Yusuff Ademola Adesina


Episode 12: What Next After Ramadan?

All praise and adoration is to Allah. May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon the last messenger, Prophet Muhammad, his households, his companions, and those who are following the path of righteousness until the Last Day.

During the month of Ramadan, one will notice that everyone is actively engaged in one good deed or the other. When you went into any Masjid during Ramadan, you will definitely find people engaging in various different acts of worship; as some were reading Qur’an, some were doing dhikr, some were observing voluntary prayers, whilst others were reading Islamic books – they were actually doing all these to straighten their faith in Allaah, and seek His guidance and forgiveness. And, of course, that is the spirit of Ramadan – the month of all good deeds and good characters.

Now that the month of Ramadan has slowly come to an end, the most important question to ask is, what next after Ramadan – do I need to continue my good deeds or give a pause till the next Ramadan?

Well, before answering this question, I’d like to firstly mention to you that Ramadan is a month of reminder and solidification. It comes once in a year to remind you of good deeds and the commandments of your Lord, and to solidify the practice of these commandments and good deeds in your heart.

To answer the question, you need to realize that the sign that your deeds in the month of Ramadan were accepted by Allaah is steadfastness – that is, being able to continue the good actions you picked up in Ramadan. The month of Ramadan is definitely not the end line, and the Lord of the month of Ramadan, is the same Lord for the entirely time. Thus, the deeds you picked up in Ramadan should not end after it, for indeed, the most beloved deed in the sight of Allah is that which is done consistently. Abu Hurayrah (Allaah pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (PBUH) said: “Take on only as much as you can of good deeds, for the best deed is that which is done consistently, even if it is little.” (Sunan Ibn Majah)

The most obvious deed you performed during Ramadan was fasting. So a clear indicator that your fasting was accepted will be to see how well you are able to continue fasting throughout the year. The following is the list of voluntary fasting you could perform after Ramadan:

1.       Fasting six days in the month of Shawwal

Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (PBUH) as saying: “He who observed the fast of Ramadan and then followed it with six (fasts) of Shawwal. It would be as if he fasted perpetually” (Sahih Muslim)

2.       Fasting on the day of Arafah

Abu Qatada(Allah be Pleased with him) narrated that: the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was asked about fasting the day of Arafah and he answered “It expiates the sins of the preceding year and the coming year” (Sahih Muslim)

3.       Fasting on the day of Ashura

Abu Qatada(Allah be Pleased with him) narrated that: the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was asked about fasting the day of Ashurah and he answered “It expiates the sins of the preceding years.” (Sahih Muslim) 

4.       Fasting on  Mondays and Thursdays

Abu Qatada(Allah be Pleased with him) narrated that: the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was asked about fasting on Monday, and answered “it was the day on which I was born, on which I was commissioned with prophet-hood or revelation was sent to me” (Sahih Muslim)

Abu Hurairah(Allah pleased with him) narrated that: the messenger of Allah (PBUH) said “The deeds are presented on Monday and Thursday, so I love that my deeds be presented while am fasting” (Hasan Hadith, Tirmidhi)   

Your constancy in Salaat (Prayer) is another indicator that your deeds were accepted in the month. You observed Taraweeh every night and visited the mosque every day of Ramadan; you shouldn’t let these stop after Ramadan. Its continuation shows that you deeds were accepted. Recall the hadith of Aisha describing the performance of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) Taraweeh, she said that the prophet never observed more than 11rak’ats in the month of Ramadan or any other month. This is a sign for you that you needn’t relent; continue your Qiyaamul-Layl as you were doing it in Ramadan.

In conclusion, do not refrain from any act of worship you have engaged in during Ramadan; pray in congregation, give alms, adhere to the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad [PBUH], be generous, be compassionate, rely upon Allaah, read the Quran and ponder over its verses, enjoin what is good and forbid the evil. May Allah have mercy upon you. Jazakumul-Laahu Khayran. May Allah reward you with goodness for following the series up to its end. I pray that Allah make this concluded Ramadan a blessed, merciful turning point to your life, may He accept your good deeds and forgive your shortcomings.

Taqabbal-Laahu minnaa wa minkum.  Remember me in your dua.

Comments

  1. Timothy MORENIKEJI27 June 2017 at 12:40

    Okay, thanks for sharing this post.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Idris27 June 2017 at 17:25

    Jazakallahu Khairan. This is inspiring and instilling righteousness.

    ReplyDelete

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