of Ramadan … the month which the believers' hearts long for.
It is a season for the hearts to regain their purity and for peopleto
salvage their conscience after being polluted by the overwhelming
desires and the pleasures of this worldly life.
Allaah has blessed us with this great month… it is an honorable guest
which our Salaf )righteous predecessors(used to supplicate Allaah
earnestly to make them live long enough to witness. It is the best
month in the year during which Allaah revealed the Quran and blessed
itwith a night which is better than one thousand months, plus
manyother distinct features with which Allaah distinguished it.
Abu Hurayrahreported that the Prophet,said:"O people! You are being
approached by a blessed month. Allaah made fasting within it an
obligation. The doors of Paradise will be opened and the doors of Hell
will be closed, and the devils will be chained. It is a month which
contains a night that is better than one thousand months; he who is
deprived from its blessings is truly the deprived one".]Ahmad and
An-Nasaa'i[
Indeed, this is the best news one can receive; why would the believer
not rejoice when the gates of Paradise are opened andthe gatesof Hell
are sealed? How can any sane person not rejoice to the chaining of the
devils? How can devout worshippers notrejoice when worshipping in one
night is better than one thousand months? Undoubtedly, the virtues of
this month are countless.
This great occasion, however, comes in a time that the Muslim nation
is defeated, surroundedbymany impediments and ailments and the Muslims
are suffering from calamities, disunity and humiliation. Therefore, it
is time to review this painful condition and recognize the real causes
of weakness and ailments.
As we receiveRamadan,it is time for us to bid farewell to all our
sufferings! Wecannot,however, do that except by holding fasttothe path
of the Quran andSunnah, by working hard and being sincere with Allaah.
The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam,gave a
comprehensiveclarification of the conditions for victory and the
causes of defeat for the Muslim nation by saying:"If people break the
covenant of Allaah and His Messenger, Allaah will send an external
enemy against them who will seize some of their possessions; If theydo
not rule by the Book of Allaah,nor attempt to implement everything in
it, Allaah will spread enmity among them."]Ibn Maajah[
Thus, breaking the covenant of Allaah and His Messenger, sallallaahu
'alayhi wa sallam,or in other words, disobeying Allaah and His
Messenger,, is one of the reasons for its defeat and being subjugated
by its enemies. Likewise, ruling by other than therulings of Allaah is
the reason for the poverty, disunity and conflict which is occurring
among the Muslims.
How can the Muslims expect Allaah to grant them victory while they are
discarding prayers,refusing to pay Zakaah)obligatory charity(and
dealing in interest? What can they expect when alcoholic drinks and
nightclubs become prevalent in their lands? What happens when evil
becomes widespread? The Prophet,was once asked: "Will we be punished
by disasterswhich befall us while we have righteous people amongst
us?' he,replied:"Yes, if evil becomes widespread."]Al-Bukhaari and
Muslim[
Additionally, the unrestrained love for this life and preferring it to
the Hereafter has further weakened the Muslim nation. It is this
predicament that gave its enemies the power to dictate many of its
affairs, seize its wealth, conquer its lands and severely persecute
the Muslims. The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam,said:"Beware!
The nations all over the world shall join forces against you as diners
gather around their plate of food".The companions asked:"OMessenger of
Allaah! Is that because we will be few in number then?" Hesaid:"No,
rather you will be many, but you will only be as )worthless as( the
scum after a flood. The fear of you shall be removed from the hearts
of your enemies and Wahnwill be put into your hearts".The
companionsasked:"What is Wahn?"He, sallallaahu 'alayhiwa
sallam,answered:"To love this life and detest death".Ahmad and others[
Hence, we must desist from heedlessness as Almighty Allaah has
condemned the heedless andpraised the pious.
If Muslims truly wish for victory, then they must change what is
inthemselves, as Allaah Says )what means(:"…Indeed Allaah will
notchange the condition of a people until they change what is in
themselves …"]Quran13:11[. Obeying Allaah and His Messenger,
sallallaahu 'alayhiwasallam,is the only source of victory. Allaah Says
)what means(:"O you who have believed, if you support Allaah, He will
support you and plant firmly your feet."]Quran 47:7[
The fortunate is the one who uses his time to work for the Hereafter
and neither worldly commitment nor its desiresdistracthim from
fulfilling the rights of his Lord.Letusutilize the opportunity of
Ramadan and try to change the situation of theMuslim nation which
starts with me and you changing ourselves.
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