1. I’m stronger than I think I am

Allah tells us in the Qur’an multiple times ‘itaqu-ilah.’  The literal translation of this would be to ‘avoid Allah’ but that is actually the exact opposite of the meaning. There is an extra word in the middle that is assumed and must be present. The actual meaning of this is ‘avoid avoiding Allah.’ So often we just want to avoid Allah; we want to indulge in the haram (prohibited) and live heedless lives even though we know in the long run this is not in our benefit. Here, taqwa is about abstaining from avoiding Allah and being conscious of Him throughout our days.

Similarly fasting the month of Ramadan was also about abstaining. We were abstaining from food, water, and relationships which are all in essence completely halal.  Our state is actually a statement to ourselves and to Allah. We are saying ‘ya Allah, not only will I abstain from haram, but if you ask me I will abstain from halal (permissible)!’ Through this Allah is telling us and reminding us that we are stronger than we think. Allah is telling us that we are strong enough to abstain from halal so we must be strong enough to abstain from the haram! We all have strength; we just have to discover it.

Through Ramadan I learned that I am stronger than I think. If Allah has deemed something to be haram, if I seek his aid and control my desires I can stay away from it.

2. I have no right to judge anyone

Throughout Ramadan, it was assumed that every Muslim around us was fasting. When encountering any Muslim, we had no ground nor any right to think otherwise. This was the case even though the people we were meeting could have had a valid excuse to not fast. Women may have been on their menstrual cycle and not fasting. Someone may have been traveling or sick. But the general assumption was that everyone was fasting and we did not dig deep to prove this. Why? Because fasting is an act of worship that is action-less. It shows no visible signs nor does the one who is fasting have to do anything (rather they must not do something).

Along those same lines, a man came to the Prophet ﷺ and asked him about taqwa. The Prophet ﷺ pointed at his chest and said ‘at-taqwa hahuna’ or ‘taqwa resides here.’ The Prophet ﷺ was telling us something very important. He was telling us that you cannot judge a person’s taqwa based on his appearance. A person may be dressed in a manner that is seemingly ‘religious’ and be a person who has very little taqwa. Likewise, a person may be dressed in a manner that we do not find fit for our own selves, yet they may have more taqwa than we could ever imagine!

Through Ramadan I learned that I have no right to judge anyone. Just as I cannot tell whether a person is fasting or not by looking at them, I cannot tell whether a person has taqwa simply by looking at them. But just as I always assumed the best of a person regarding fasting, I will also assume the best of a person regarding their taqwa. And if I were to see a Muslim eating during Ramadan, I would make for him/her excuses (he/she has an valid excuse such as travel or sickness), so likewise if I see someone doing something not befitting of a person of taqwa I make excuses (perhaps he/she doesn’t know, etc.).

3. If I am not nourished, I get really tired

Throughout Ramadan we find ourselves getting really tired physically. A lack of food and a lack of sleep cause our daily routine to be a little lopsided. Sometimes we found ourselves saying things we probably wouldn’t have said otherwise or doing things that were out of the ordinary out of the exhaustion. On the other hand, our souls were more alive than they had been in the past 11 months! Du`a’ (supplication) was easy! Dhikr (remembrance of God) was easy! Prayer was easy! In this is a sign. Throughout Ramadan we had been depriving our physical bodies of nourishment and focusing on the nourishment of our own souls. Just as the body becomes tired when it does not get its proper food, the soul becomes really tired when it does not get its proper spiritual food.

Through Ramadan, I learned that when my soul becomes tired and my good deeds become hard, I need to nourish my soul just as I nourish my body. I need to give it doses of a divine cure to awaken it back to a lively state.

Ramadan serves as a training for the entire year. It rejuvenates our souls and leaves us with powerful lessons that must be heeded and acted upon. If we do this, the Ramadan spirit will last with us throughout the year until the next Ramadan when we can again grow, this time past our last spiritual growth, 11 months ago. I encourage you all to sit down and think to yourself ‘what did I learn this Ramadan about myself and about taqwa that can be implemented throughout the year to keep me from experience a downfall post-Ramadan.’ 

“[Satan] said, ‘Because You have put me in error, I will surely sit in wait for them on Your straight path. Then I will come to them from before them and from behind them and on their right and on their left, and You will not find most of them grateful [to You].'” (Qur’an, 7:16-17)

And so while we find ourselves again vulnerable to the very same struggles that plagued us before Ramadan, let us not forget the very purpose of our efforts during that blessed month. Let us not allow the fruits of Ramadan to be lost. And let us not miss out on the very purpose of our fasting.

When commanding mankind to fast, Allah says:

“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.” (Qur’an, 2:183)

It is that consciousness of Allah which is essential for the fulfillment of our purpose in this life. It is that fear of Allah which provides the muscle for our struggle to remain on the straight path. And if taqwa (God consciousness) is the muscle, Ramadan was our personal trainer.

If, during Ramadan, we were able to keep ourselves from an essential physical need (of eating and drinking) out of fear of Allah, are we not able to keep ourselves from haram (forbidden in Shari’a) after Ramadan, out of that same fear? None of us would dare sneak a glass of water while we are fasting. And yet, the very same Lord who could see us sneak in that drink during Ramadan can see us commit haram outside of Ramadan.

During Ramadan, we could wake up before sunrise to feed our bodies. But after Ramadan we sleep through fajr and starve our souls. Let us not allow ourselves to be conquered. Yes, the shaytan can call us again. But all he can do is call. The power and choice is ours. Allah tells us in the Qur’an:

“And Satan will say when the matter has been concluded, ‘Indeed, Allah had promised you the promise of truth. And I promised you, but I betrayed you. But I had no authority over you except that I invited you, and you responded to me. So do not blame me; but blame yourselves. I cannot be called to your aid, nor can you be called to my aid. Indeed, I deny your association of me [with Allah ] before. Indeed, for the wrongdoers is a painful punishment.’” (Qur’an, 14:22)

And so there are some who will allow Shaytaan to reign over them. But there are others over which Shaytaan has no power. Addressing Shaytaan, Allah says:

“Indeed, My servants – no authority will you have over them, except those who follow you of the deviators.” (Qur’an, 15:42)

But how do we become among Allah’s servants, over which Shaytaan has no authority? How do we continue the spirit of Ramadan for the entire year, and throughout our lives?

The following are some ways:

1. Guard your prayers. During Ramadan, many of us make sure to pray every prayer on time — often at the masjid. Continue to guard your prayers, because surely they will guard you. Allah says in the Qur’an: “Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do” (29:45).

2. Remember Allah by staying close to the Qur’an. During Ramadan, many of us spend our nights and days reading Qur’an. Remembering Allah by staying close to the Qur’an everyday will protect you from Shaytaan and keep your heart polished. Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said: “There is a polish for everything that takes away rust; and the polish for the heart is the remembrance of Allah” (Bukhari). The Prophet ﷺ has also said: “Read the Qur’an, for verily it will come on the Day of Judgment as an intercessor for its companions” (Muslim).

3. Think more and talk less. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Sometimes a person says a thing which pleases Allah, and in return Allah raises his status; and sometimes a person says something which displeases Allah, and it takes him to hell” (Bukhari). Ibrâhîm an-Nakhâ‘î, a pious predecessor, once said: “Whoever reflects will find that the noblest and most dignified person of every gathering is the one who is most silent, because silence beautifies the scholar and conceals the faults of the ignorant.”

4. Repent often. Many of us seek forgiveness from Allah during Ramadan, but abandon this practice once Ramadan is over. Keep in mind that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to repent to Allah a hundred times every single day. Repenting often keeps our hearts clean and always connected to Allah.

A dear colleague of mine said that with the passing of Ramadan one feels as though they have lost a relative. Indeed. But in our grief, let its passing not be in vain.