Recognizing & Taking Advantage of Allah’s Mercy

Spiritual Reflection: Recognizing & Taking Advantage of Allah’s Mercy

Alhamdulillah, our souls have been restored to our body and we have reached another Jumu’ah. This morning, I’m reflecting on the last few months and how from Allah’s Mercy, He extends so many opportunities for forgiveness and to have our duah answered at the end of one (lunar) year, and the beginning of the next.

We have the blessed month of Ramadan, with its requisite fasting, which purifies both the body – and is also intended to purify the heart and mind as well. The habits we adopt in Ramadan are not just a one a year occurrence, but are meant to show us what we are capable of, and build habits of increased ibadah and Taqwah, during the rest of the year. This is a time of immense benefit, as Allah extends to us unprecedented mercy and forgiveness, and this is also the time when souls are released from the Hellfire.

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“Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (Jinns and Men) deny?” (Ar-Rahman 55:13)
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Right after Ramadan, we are blessed with the opportunity to fast the six days of Shawwal, which when coupled with Ramadan and completed with good intention, it is as if you fasted the entire year (-Sahih Muslim) Truly Allah is the Most Merciful, of those Who show mercy.

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“Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (Jinns and Men) deny?” (Ar-Rahman 55:13)
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If that were not enough, this is soon followed with the month of Dhul Hijjah, in which occurs the Hajj. The first ten days of this month are the best ten of the year (the last ten nights of Ramadan are the best 10 NIGHTS). Righteous actions done during this time are magnified and weigh heavy in the scale, if accepted by our Lord. And of course, there is the monumental benefit of fasting on Yaumul Arafat (the 9th of Dhul Hijjah) – the expiation of sins from the previous year, as well as the year coming – Allahu Akbar!

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“Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (Jinns and Men) deny?” (Ar-Rahman 55:13)
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Also, Alhamdulillah, for many of us, we are able to send a duah with someone making Hajj – how amazing that we can benefit from a supplication made at one of the most auspicious places on earth! Subhanallah.

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“Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (Jinns and Men) deny?” (Ar-Rahman 55:13)
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And even after all of this, we have the mercy the very next month, (Muharram) of fasting the Day of Ashurah (when Allah delivered Prophet Musa {alayhi salaam} from Fir’aun). If accepted, this expiates the sins of the previous year. Are we seeing a theme here?

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“Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (Jinns and Men) deny?” (Ar-Rahman 55:13)
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Allah says in Suratul Maidah:

مَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ حَرَجٍۢ وَلَٰكِن يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

Allah does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you that you may be grateful. (5:6)

Allah – Subhanallahu wa Ta’ala, is always true to His word. We are constantly in need of Allah’s mercy and forgiveness and in this concentrated “Season of Good” (Mowsim Al Khair) that we have just passed through, we are able to be cleansed in so many ways, Alhamdulillah. The key is to recognize this and preserve ourselves for the rest of the year.

Often, we get caught up in day to day life and lose sight of the big picture – but Alhamdulillah, our Lord gives us ample opportunity to cleanse our souls and refresh the garden of our Iman – but we must take heed and full appreciate and act upon these opportunities.

To affirm this point, we have only to ponder the words of Allah, Might and Sublime:

أَمَّنْ هُوَ قَٰنِتٌ ءَانَآءَ ٱلَّيْلِ سَاجِدًۭا وَقَآئِمًۭا يَحْذَرُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةَ وَيَرْجُوا۟ رَحْمَةَ رَبِّهِۦ ۗ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ۗ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ`

“Is one who is obedient to Allah, prostrating himself or standing (in prayer) during the hours of the night, fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the Mercy of his Lord (like one who disbelieves)? Say: “Are those who know equal to those who know not?” It is only men of understanding who will remember (i.e. get a lesson from Allah’s Signs and Verses).” (Surah Zumr 39:9)

May Allah make us of those who full appreciate His mercy and purification, and strive to uphold what He is pleased with, and steer clear from that which will earn His displeasure, amen.

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“Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (Jinns and Men) deny?” (Ar-Rahman 55:13)
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