Ibadah Style Changes

Alhamdhulillah!  Ramadan had been such a blessed month. Though days were long, Allah (s.w.t) made it easy for us to fast. Quran and Salah were our highest priorities in Ramadan. We stole moments from our usual routine to go back to Quran, to recite it and to reflect more on it.  Our efforts doubled in the last ten blessed nights of Ramadan. We hoped to make most of Lailatul Qadr.  We begged Allah to answer our list of invocation. And every night we had a new list to beg for and we hoped that was the night of decree. Finally, when moon was sighted though we were happy to have successfully fasted through the month of Ramadan, still we felt a sharp pain at farewell of the blessed month.  Most of us had self-imposed a ban on TV, Facebook, online games, unnecessary phone calls and much more, so as to perfect one’s fast.

How blessed were those days of Ramadan when His pleasure meant everything to us? Please read that question again. Isn’t that a wrong question? Aren’t all our days meant to please Him? Why have we limited piety, compassion and charity only to Ramadan? Why can’t we feel that tranquility in other months too?  Doesn’t everyday have the same 24 hours?

I do agree, shayateen had been chained in the month of Ramadan. But, with the training in Ramadan our nafs (self –soul) should now be strong enough to battle shaitan’s whispers. Instead, we have taken a ‘U’ turn on the day of Eid. Our TV’s are crying the old sagas; music has sneaked back into our cars; free time is killed with online games and gossip!!! Honestly, what have we brought forth from our experience in Ramadan? Why is this happening?

Do you remember the last time you took up a crash diet scheme to shed few pounds. Well, we wanted to fit into a sleek dress and look our best for a certain event. We gave up carbs, sugar and dairy. It did work well. Then, after much awaited events we award ourselves with delicacies. Yummy!  Before we could realize, we gain back the lost pounds and sometimes even more! What went wrong? Well I can almost hear some of you scream out, for permanent impact we need to incorporate lifestyle changes. Small changes like replacing unhealthy carbs with healthier ones; avoiding processed meals; incorporating organic food. Such life style is not just limited to food. It includes exercise and other activities too! The results are slow but substantial than our crash scheme. Ironically, these changes are much more difficult to adopt by most of us. Key player is the motive. Instead of limiting it to a sleek dress, let it be for healthy life.

Our external look makes no difference in our rank before Allah. It’s our heart he is interested in. Nothing is hidden from Him. Our beauty is Taqwa (God consciousness).  Our motive in Ramadan was to shed our sins away. We also beg Allah to assist us with matters which bother us and trusted Him alone. We surpass our expectations by praying all night and reciting complete Quran once or more within this month. Once we have bid farewell to Ramadan, our priorities change…. We are busy trying to catch up things we had forsaken in Ramadan. This is because we have been treating Ramadan like a crash diet course. The most Merciful Generous Allah might have forgiven our sins. But we are greedily filling them back. Is this how we would like to return to Him?

Ramadan is just a glimpse of what we could achieve by spiritual standards. Let us learn from Ramadan. It’s not just time to shed sins but also to recharge taqwa. Once charged it’s up to us to keep the spark alive. It’s time to make Ibadah style changes to continue polishing our soul.  Worship is not limited to Ramadan. Life of a believer is worship.  We have to prove to Allah we are Abd-Allah and Abd- Ramadan. (We are His slaves and not slaves of Ramadan).

Well, what could we do?  Let’s work upon three ‘N’ (?)– in our life. (Any guesses?) It’s time to change from Abdur Ramdan to Abd Allah. Join me in this metamorphism. Let’s beautify our self for Allah.  Read my next post to learn about the three ‘N’s, Iman Nourishing ‘N’.