Ramadan Articles - What After Ramadan?

Ramadanis a level playing field wherein people compete with each other
in good deedsand benevolence. During this blessed month, souls are
trained in virtue and accustomed to dignity, they learn to disdain
vices, sins and acquire all good attributes.
Whoever witnesses this month without gaining any of its rewards is
indeed poor, and nothing cripples him other than negligence, laziness,
procrastination, and false hopes.
However, what is appalling is to see some of those who were guided to
do good deedsand take provisions from virtues during this monthhastily
destroying what they had built, and replacing good with evil. This is
a gross mistake and shameful act in the true sense of the word and no
remorse or apology will revoke it when you stand in front of your One
Lord.
Bishrwas asked about people who only become diligent during the month
ofRamadanand he said, "They are abominable people, because they only
knowAllaahThe Almighty during the month ofRamadan. The truly righteous
people are those who worshipAllaahThe Almighty diligently throughout
thewhole year."
Ash-Shibli, mayAllaahhave mercy upon him, was asked, "Which is
better:Sha'baanor Rajab?" His answer was, "Be a worshipper of Allaah
The Almighty rather than a worshipperofSha'baan."
'Aa'ishahwas asked, 'Did the Messenger of Allaahchoose some special
days )for fasting(?' She replied, 'No, but he used to be regular
)constant( )in his service of worshipping(.' The Prophetalso never
performed more than eleven Rak'ahs)units of prayer( whether
inRamadanor at any other time of the year.
We sincerely invite such people out of fear for them to reconsider
their lifestyle and to review themselves and think about their
condition before it is too late. We advise them not to allow
appearances, their strength, health and youth to deceive them. That is
because all of this is nothing but a mirage that one may see as water,
but once he reaches it, he finds nothing. Health will be followed by
sickness, youth will be followed byold age, and strength
willeventually turn into weakness.
So, wake up and pay attention! Life is short even if it seems long,
andhappiness will end no matter how long it lasts.
Such people should know that perseverance and adherence to the right
path as well as obedience to Allaah The Almighty is one of the
greatest signs of acceptance of one's gooddeeds. Allaah The Almighty
Says )what means(:}And worship your Lord until there comes to you the
certainty )death(.{]Quran15:99[
Consequently, the souls should remain adherent to the right and guided
path just as they were during the month ofRamadan. Guidance is not
confined to certain times and acts of worship, and obedience
toAllaahThe Almighty is not limited to the month ofRamadan.
Al-Hasan Al-Basrisaid, "Allaah has not set an end for the believer's
work other than death." Then he recited:}And worship your Lord until
there comes to you the certainty )death(.{]Quran 15:99[
Indeed,Ramadanhas ended but you still have several renewed seasons for
worship. The five daily prayers are among the highest and best good
deeds and prayer isthe first thing about which one would be asked on
the Day of Judgment when he stands in front ofAllaahThe Almighty.
If the fast ofRamadanhasended, then you have thevoluntary fasts and
occasions such as the six days ofShawwaal, Mondays and Thursdays, the
white days, the tenth day of Muharram, the Day of 'Arafah, and so on.
If the night prayer of Ramadan has ended, you should know that the
night prayer can be offered every night:}They used to sleep but little
of the night{]Quran 51:17[
If the time ofZakaat Al-Fitrhas ended, then there is the
obligatoryZakaahin addition to thecountless ways of giving voluntary
charity.
Dear Muslim brother, youshould know that one of the attributes of the
slaves ofAllaahThe Almighty is that they perform their good deeds
constantly, asAllaahThe Almighty Says)what means(:
*.}Those who are constant in their prayer{]Quran 70:23[
*.}And they who carefullymaintain their prayers -{]Quran 23:9[
If you aspire to know how to save yourself from this trap and how to
perform good deeds regularly, you have to do the following:
1- You must be sincerelyand strongly determined to do good deeds
constantly under all circumstances and conditions. This requires
keeping away from weakness and laziness. That is why the Prophet,,
used to seek refuge withAllaahThe Almighty from inability and
laziness, given their dire consequences. Hence, you should seek the
help ofAllaahThe Almighty and move ahead.
2- Moderation is very important, and you should never
overburdenyourself, as the Prophet,, said:"Do such deeds as you can do
easily, as Allaah will not get tired)of giving rewards( until you get
bored and tired)of performing religious deeds(."]Al-Bukhaari
andMuslim[
You should remember that there are blessings in perseverance. For
example, whoever reads aJuz')portion( of the Quran every day will
readthe whole Quran in one month, and whoever observes fast for three
days every month will be rewarded as if he had observed fast
throughoutthe whole year. Likewise,whoever observes
twelvevoluntaryRak'ahsevery day,AllaahThe Almighty will build a house
for himin Paradise, and so on.
3- You should know thatit is unacceptable for whoever observes a
good deed to abandon it.It was narrated that 'Abdullaah ibn 'Amr ibn
Al-'Aassaid, "The Messenger of Allaah,, said to me:'O 'Abdullaah! Do
not be like so-and-so; he used to get up at night )for voluntary
prayer( but abandoned itlater.'']Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
4- Dear brother, remember what our righteous predecessors used to
do. 'Aa'ishahsaid that whenever our beloved Prophet Muhammad,, missed
the night prayer because of illness or sleep, he would pray twelve
Rak'ahs the next day.]Muslim[
The Prophet,, also once missed 'Itikaaf)staying in seclusion( andhe
made up for it in Shawwaal. Abu Hurayrahsaid that the Messenger of
Allaah,, said to Bilaal,:"'O Bilaal, tell me about the most hopeful
act )i.e., one which you deem the most rewarding with Allaah( you have
done since you accepted Islam because I heard the sound of the steps
of your shoes in front of mein Paradise.' Bilaalsaid, 'I do not
consider any act more hopeful than that whenever I make ablution )or
take a bath( in any hour of the night or day, I would immediately
perform prayer for as long as was destined for me to
pray.''']Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
However, the most amazing thing is what 'Ali ibn Abi Taalib,, used to
do in response tothe advice of the Prophet,, when he once visited him
and found him sleeping with his wife Faatimah,,)daughter of the
Prophet,(. 'Alisaid,"The Prophetplaced his leg between me and
Faatimahand taught us what to say when we go to bed, saying:'When you
go to your bed recitethirty-three times Subhanallaah )Glory be to
Allaah(, thirty-three times Alhamdulillaah )All praise is for Allaah(,
and forty-three times Allaah-u-Akbar )Allaah is The Greatest(.' 'Ali
added'By Allaah, I never left this practice for the rest of my life.'
A man asked him, 'Even on the night of the Battle of Siffeen?' He
said, 'Yes, I observed this even on the night of Siffeen.'"]Al-Haakim:
Saheeh[
If you contemplate over this narration, you will be amazed at the
keenness and persistenceon doing good deeds even at times of war and
bloodshed. None of thesedistracted him from implementing the advice of
the Prophet,, regarding what he should say upon going tobed. Such
stories and narrations should make you persist in doing good deeds and
attempting to imitate therighteous predecessors and following their
path.