Ramadan has come and gone again. Another Ramadan has passed. We all wonder, have we done enough good deeds? Have we asked for forgiveness from Allah enough times? Have our fasts been accepted? These thoughts roam around in our minds for a few days. That’s right, for just a FEW days. After that, it’s all back to the old, sinful self.
We go back to sinning so easily, even sins that we could easily avoid. We think to ourselves, “Oh, Ramadan will come again next year, I’ll make tawbah then.” But dear brothers and sisters in faith, how are we so sure that we will be able to witness the next Ramadan do we know when we will die? Death is so near, that you may even die tomorrow or even today, while you are reading this, your soul may suddenly return to Allah. And that’s why we should ALWAYS be ready.
Ramadan is like a month of training in order to frame our lives like that for the rest of the year and until next Ramadan. The fact that Ramadan is over does not mean that our good deeds too should come to an end. NO! Here we face the greatest challenge, to maintain our spirituality even after Ramadan. Just like we abstained from haram during the blessed month, we should be trained to abstain from it even after the month comes to an end.
Let me list some ways you can maintain your spirituality after Ramadan.
Reflect on the Blessed Month
Reflect and ponder upon your way of life during Ramadan. Remember that you used to abstain from halal food even during daytime. Ask yourself, if you were able to abstain from halal for the sake of Allah, what excuse is there to indulge in Haram? Think about the connection you had with Allah and how blessed you felt. do you not want to continue having that amazing feeling? If so, abstain from evil even after Ramadan.
Continue praying Qiyamul-Layl
Don’t just stop the Tahajjud prayer when Ramadan is over. Remember the close connection you get with Allah during that last third of the night. Continue praying, get up in that serene time and make sincere Du’a to Allah.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The best prayer after the obligatory prayer is prayer at night.” Narrated by Muslim.
Observe Sunnah Fasts
Fasting brings you closer to Allah and helps you stay away from evil. So even after Ramadan is over, continue fasting on Sunnah days, such as the 13th, 14th and 15th of every lunar month, and on Mondays and Wednesdays.
It was narrated that Abu Dharr said:
“The Messenger of Allah commanded us to fast the three days of Al-Bid, the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth.” Sunan an-Nasa’i 2422 [Graded as Hasan]
Read Quran Daily
It’s sad that during Ramadan, we use to recite Quran so much but after the month is over, the mushaf just sits on top of the shelf, gathering dust. Ramadan is not the only month for reading Quran; on the contrary, it should be recited and pondered upon every single day.
Seek Good Companionship
Good friends bring you closer to Allah. Be with those who remind you of Allah, those who do not backbite nor indulge in evil. Friends are a great influence to your behaviour.
Narrated Abu Musa:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “The example of a good companion (who sits with you) in comparison with a bad one, is like that of the musk seller and the blacksmith’s bellows (or furnace); from the first you would either buy musk or enjoy its good smell while the bellows would either burn your clothes or your house, or you get a bad nasty smell thereof.” Sahih al-Bukhari 2101
Follow these methods and other ways too, in order to maintain your spirituality all year round. Once you let go of a bad habit, don’t let it come back. Don’t let Shaytan win. Be steadfast on deen, and crave for eternal Jannah.
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