Ramadaan, a month of blessings for us, from Allah to increase our taqwa and draw closer to Him has gone, gone too soon.
It was a month of blessings and also a month of training for us, easy training to do ibadah whilst the shaytaan was locked up.
Allah made it easy for us, so that after Ramadaan we can keep doing the good deeds after the month long training. Ramadaan gave us a routine of ibaadah, it prepared us for the months to come; months during which we have to battle against the shaytaan and ourselves against evil. We just have to establish goals, and maintain our schedule of ibaadah. Fair enough many of us may be back to work, or school, but that doesn’t mean we should allow the training to go down the drain.
Let’s look at the condition of our good deeds the very next day after Ramadaan; the castle of good deeds we had built comes crashing down, we see women adorning themselves, showing off and becoming a fitna for everyone around and men not even offering obligatory prayers while enjoying the eid festivities. Allahu Akbar!
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said “The deeds most loved by Allah are those done regularly, even if they are small.”(Bukhari and Muslim)
Let’s see some useful tips to be consistent in our Ibadah:
- Qur’an :
Read little of Qur’an every day; if during Ramadaan you were able to read an entire juzz or sit for an hour, then try to keep it up. If not, read 20 ayahs or at least 10 ayahs, it won’t even take 10 minutes. And remember the Qur’an was revealed for guidance, not just to be read in Ramadaan.
- Night Prayer (Qiyam ul layl):
Now that you made a habit of praying in the night just continue it. Reducing 1 hour of sleep won’t upset your sleep pattern. Even if we pray just 2 rakaahs, it is better than letting the good habit go completely.
- Fasting:
If we keep fasting regularly it becomes a habit and also it is beneficial for our health. The Prophet (S.A.W) said “The evils caused for a man through his family, wealth, and neighbour are expiated by prayer, fasting, and charity.” Moreover you will be more likely to gain admittance to paradise through the gate of Ar-Rayyan.
- Charity:
Give in charity remembering that it doesn’t decrease your wealth but Allah gives you more and with it you get countless good deeds. Give little or more but regularly. Allah has blessed us with so much, what better way to be thankful than to share it with the less fortunate.
Remember praying, giving charity, fasting little will eventually make a collect to form a river of good deeds. In shaa Allah.
May Allah make us consistent in our Ibadah! Ameen.
Fatima Damad,