As the month of great mercies draws to a close, as the faithful engage in final acts of Ramadan devotions, as believers anticipate divine acceptance and as Muslims across the world prepare for the coming Eid celebrations, let us bid farewell to the blessed month of Ramadan with the exhortations from Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali.
By: Mohd Amin Mir
By the time! Verily man is in loss. Except such as have faith, and do righteous deeds and (join together) it is mutual enjoining of truth and of patience and consultancy (Q 103:1-3).
How so true are the words of AIIah! It seems almost unbelievable that we welcomed the blessed month of Ramadan only a few weeks ago. And again here we are; getting ready to bid goodbye to the month of glory.
These days that have passed are gone forever, irretrievably lost to man and they will only be called forth to be accounted for on the day of Judgement. Truly, anyone that has not used this month of fast to earn the mercy of Allah is in total loss and IS a sure loser! The man is also a loser if he has abstained from food, drink, and sex during the daylight of this month, but still has not benefited from the discipline, piety and spirituality of Ramadan.
Only that man has gained who has used the month to constantly remember Allah and “do righteous deeds and (join together) in the mutual enjoining of truth and of patience and constancy”(Q103:3). Now is the time to ask ourselves which of the three categories we belong to: are you a sure loser, a kaffir (unbeliever) who has refused to obey Allah and fast in this glorious month? Or are you a loser still, the one who has observed the fast as a cultural habit without its lessons or are you the winner – the muttaqi (the pious) who has observed the fast with true iman (faith) and insha Allah gets the full reward from Allah? It is an annual ritual; still we must ask again: where are we?
Our conduct between now and the next Ramadan will be a critical indicator of where we are. If our self-restraint and consciousness (taqwa) ends with Ramadan or there is a significant drop with our piety indicator; then the whole of this blessed month would have been wasted. If however, fasting and the taqwa and constant remembrance of Allah that comes with it becomes a way of our lives, then we belong to the class of the muttaqun on whom there is neither fear nor grief.
Again, where are we? All praise is due to Allah at the end as in the beginning. May His blessings continue to abide on the best of mankind and the last of His Messengers, Muhammad (peace be upon him) and all those who follow him till the end of time. (Amin). May Allah accept our fast as an act of ibaadah and admit us into His Jannah (Paradise).
Farewell moments of Ramadan: As the month of great mercies draws to a close, as the faithful engage in final acts of Ramadan devotions, as believers anticipate divine acceptance and as Muslims across the world prepare for the coming Eid celebrations, let us bid farewell to the blessed month of Ramadan with the exhortations from Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali.
‘Servants of God! The month of Ramadan has resolved to leave, and only a little of it now remains. Those among you who have done well in it, let them see it through till its end. Those who have fallen short, let them finish it with goodly actions. Enjoy the remaining few days and nights that are left of it. Bid it farewell with righteous deeds that will testify in your favour before the All-Knowing King. See it off by parting with it with the purist greeting of peace.
O month of Ramadan, be gentle! The tears of the lovers are streaming down at your departure and their hearts torn asunder at the pain of separation. Perhaps standing to bid you farewell may quench the flames of yearning that burn within. Perhaps a few moments of repentance and abstinence may mend of the fast all that has pierced it. Perhaps one cut-off from the caravan (of fasters) may find divine acceptance along with them. Perhaps one who was deserving of the Fire will be set free.
Author is In-charge District record room Deputy Commissioner Office Anantnag
