Friday, 19 Ramadan 1445 | 2024/03/29
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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

 Nafsiya Reflections: A Light with Which We Seek

Welcome to another episode of Nafsiya Reflections - A light with Which We Seek

(يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ)

O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous [Al Baqarah: 183]

“That you may become righteous” not that we may be hungry nor thirsty. Allah (swt) tells us that through fasting we gain righteousness. We gain Taqwa. “Decreed upon you”, by Who? By Allah (swt). Allah (swt) decreed upon you fasting. Allah (swt) didn’t say upon everyone, but rather upon who believes in Him, so Allah (swt) is strictly talking to His believers. The ones that have complete faith in Allah; with that Allah (swt) says that He has decreed upon us, the ones who chose to believe in Him, to fast so that we may gain righteousness. We give up our desires for Allah (swt) is an awakening for us that we believe in Him. We put our lives in His hands. We would sacrifice everything and anything for him. We give up our desires to eat, drink or be intimate.

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

"قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ إِلاَّ الصِّيَامَ هُوَ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لَخِلْفَةُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ‏"

Allah, the Majestic and the Exalted, said: Every act of the son of Adam is for him except fasting. It is done for My sake, and I will give a reward for it. By Allah in Whose Hand is the life of Muhammad, the breath of the observer of fast is sweeter to Allah than the fragrance of musk.

See when Allah (swt) forbids wine or alcohol, we may be able to see the clear benefits of it, correct? But we may also be held to account for it by others. As so, lying and slander is forbidden, it is in the end for our well-being, and in which those acts are also visible to others. But the thing about fasting is, it may also be in our interest, but in this unique case we are told to leave the “muba’h” the permissible acts, like eating halal food and drinking water. Leaving strong desires and urges that are usually not forbidden, and no one can necessarily attest to it. It is purely faith and belief in Allah (swt). It us a month of reminding ourselves why we are here in the first place, taking us away of the illusions of Dunya, reminding us of the sole purpose of our existence. It is a month of pure beauty.

So how do we preserve ourselves? How do we maintain “Taqwa” all year round?

It is through this month that we can focus exclusively on our Emaan (or try to). It is a month of reflection by asking ourselves “what is it that we do wrong”? And “what is it that we want to continue to improve”? A great question I heard recently, what is one trait we can work on that will have an impact on us, in moving us forward, towards righteousness, towards more and more Taqwa? It’s a good question. May Allah help us figure that out.

So let’s focus on the good we do, and the conduct we want to change. Let’s focus on what we need to develop, to impact our core and impact our state as an Ummah, to realign our priorities. To not backbite, to read Quran every day, to teach our children consistently the beauty in being near to Allah, and how to do so, by being role models manifesting the Quran all year round, as much as we can. For in the end, we are human.

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said,

"لَوْلاَ أَنَّكُمْ تُذْنِبُونَ لَخَلَقَ اللَّهُ خَلْقًا يُذْنِبُونَ يَغْفِرُ لَهُمْ"‏

Had you not committed sins, Allah would have brought into existence a creation that would have committed sin (and Allah) would have forgiven them.”

Subhan Allah, the mercy of Allah!

So let’s work on making ourselves the person we want to be on yaom al Qiyamah, the day of resurrection, to keep working on our habits, rituals, and priorities. And with the help of Allah we will gain his pleasure, in sha’ Allah. Fasting is our door... it is a light with which we seek nearness to Allah and protection, in this dunya and the next.

Ya Allah guide our hearts.

Ya Allah change in us what does not please You.

Ya Allah bring us closer to you, till we meet you. Ya Allah may we meet you!

Ya Allah protect our hearts from the darkness of dunya.

Ya Allah help our Ummah.

Ya Allah help our Ummah.

Ya Allah help our Ummah.

Ya Allah establish your deen in the earth.

Ya Allah help those who want to establish it.

Ya Allah protect them, guide them, and grant them Firdaws al Ala’.

Ya Allah be their eyes, their ears, their hands and guide them to the right path.

Ya Allah may this be the last Ramadan without our shield.

Ya Rab!

Ramadan Mubarak!

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