Don’t wait for Ramadan to correct your soul

This Ramadan, I’ve found myself  more  excited  than  ever  before.This is partly because of all the  great  advice  and  reminders  about  preparing for Ramadan  hitting my newsfeed,  coupled with my excitement of the fact that this Ramadhan, I’m leaving work and will be at home the entire month Alhamdulillah! 

I’m spending time NOW to make preparations to ensure that I get the most benefit possible out of  this precious month, InshaAllah. I’ve truly immersed myself in planning, and I’ve made du’aa often, that this will be my best Ramadan so far.

 But then, it struck me.

I remembered a lesson that Allah has shown me before:

–> Why do  I fall into the trap of the security of tomorrow?

–> How often do we, as Muslims, forget the reality of life – that it must end?

–> How many of us think that we will have ample time to make 

tawbah, and to give up things that are displeasing to Allah?
In the weeks and days before Ramadan, Shaytaan is 

becoming desperate in his quest to make us err. His plotting increases, and he is hopeful that anyone who’s qadr it is to 

return to Allaah before Ramadhan, will die without making tawbah.

Yet we often feel a false sense of security, that we will make it to Ramadan….that we will have the opportunity to be forgiven. 

We should look to the examples of the Sahabah 

(may Allah be pleased with them all), who remembered

death constantly.

–> When they parted after ‘Isha Salat, they knew that there was no certainty that they would see each other again at Fajr.

–> Some of them would hang their Kafan (burial robe)

behind their bedroom door as a reminder.

–> Others actually dug their grave, and when they

felt distant from Allah they would  go and sit in it.

– Some of them would not rest at night until they gave away their last dirham.

…SubhanAllah. Yet, we live as if we have full faith of tomorrow 

and beyond!

The reality of life is that we have to plan for the future.  However, at the same time we should be prepared for it 

all to end abruptly.None of us knows if we will reach Ramadan, or be blessed to see it all the way to the end.

We should take heed of the example of the Sahaba and put our affairs in order with Allah now – and reinforce that commitment on a daily basis. 

A great place to start is to memorize the below du’aa and recite it morning and night. 

On the authority of Shaddad ibn Aws, may Allah be pleased with

him, the Prophet, Sal Allaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:​

​

“The chief of prayers for forgiveness is:​

(Sayyidul Istighfar)​

​

Allahumma anta rabbee la ilaaha illa anta, 

khalaqtanee wa-ana ‘abduka, 

wa-ana ‘alaa ‘ahdika wawa’dika mas- tata’tu, 

a’oothu bika min sharri ma sana’tu, 

aboo-o laka bini’matika ‘alaya, wa–aboo-o bidhambee, faghfir lee, 

fa-innahu la yaghfirudh-dhunooba illa ant.​

​
Translation:

‘O Allaah, You are my Lord, none has the right to be worshiped 

except You. 

You created me and I am Your servant and I abide to Your covenant and promise [to honor it] as best I can.

I take refuge in You from the evil of which I’ve committed. 

I acknowledge Your favor upon me and I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me, for verily none can forgive sins except You.’​

​

The Prophet, Sal Allaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, added:​

“If somebody recites it during the day with firm faith in it and dies on the same day before the evening, he will be from the people of

Paradise; and if somebody recites it at night with firm faith in it and

dies before the morning, he will be from the people of Paradise.”​

[Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 75, Number 318] 
So let’s not wait until Ramadan to seek Allah’s forgiveness and mercy. Let’s start today and commit to live each day as if it’s our last. Let’s strive daily to seek the abode of the hereafter, even as we move through this present life. 

Submitted by Sister SakeenahMuhaajirah