Answer
Short Answer:
- We need to work on the spiritual, intellectual, and physical dimensions to be wholly in connection, submission, and remembrance of our Creator.
- Ramadan is a training period that helps us gain taqwa.
- Now that Ramadan is over, it’s time to show Allah that we have learned something.
- Please check the suggestions below for more details.
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Salam Dear Reader,
Thank you for your question and for contacting Ask About Islam.
The purpose of Ramadan is to help us gain taqwa.
This taqwa is not meant to be practiced in Ramadan only.
Ramadan is meant to be a training period that helps us gain taqwa.
Subhan-Allah, habits take around 21 days to be formed. And Allah Almighty has given us 30 days of Ramadan to change ourselves to the better, leave bad habits, and adopt good and pure ones.
So now that Ramadan is over, it’s time to show Allah that we have learned something.
To show Him that we will take what we learned in Ramadan with us the whole year.
That we will and do our best to remain conscious of Him and in remembrance of Him always.
That’s the purpose of our life.
The remembrance of Allah is an act done spiritually, intellectually, and physically.
We need to work on all three dimensions insha’Allah to be wholly in connection, submission, and remembrance of our Creator.
So here are some tips for all of us:
Spiritually
1- Continue to do dhikr of Allah all the time and whenever you feel free. Dhikr is very powerful and it has great spiritual effects. It is also effortless and can be done whenever and wherever you are.
Always utter istighfar (seeking forgiveness). Maintain the morning and evening adhkar (remembrance) to protect oneself from shaitan and from all harm. Always fill time with words of remembrance of Allah. This is one way that we can be in connection with Him and in His protection every day until The Day we meet Him.
2- Make dua whenever you can. Make dua for everything you need. The best times to make dua are in sujood during prayer, during the last third of the night, during the last hour of Friday before Maghrib, and after reciting the adhkar of every prayer. Seek those times to ask Allah for everything.
3- Make sure to recite something of the Quran every day. Even if it be as little as 4 pages every day. But the most important thing is to be consistent.
Intellectually
1- Continue to pursue knowledge of the deen.
Try to seek and attend lectures and gatherings of learning the deen. Enroll yourself in classes or gatherings available in your neighborhood to maintain a regular schedule of seeking knowledge.
2-If nothing is available around you, make sure to listen to lectures online. This will allow you to gain more knowledge about your deen.
There are websites like Bayyinah, halaltube, Quran weekly, and many others that provide easy and interesting lectures. So make use of this opportunity that is open to all.
3-Try to learn more about the Quran, the seerah of the Prophet, the fiqh of our deen.
This religion has an ocean of knowledge that is open for everyone to learn.
We have a lifetime to gain knowledge about our deen. So, pursue this.
This is not restricted to one month. It is a lifetime worth of learning and growing closer to Allah Almighty.
Physically
1- Remind your eyes, ears, and tongue not to seek or do anything that is displeasing to Allah Almighty.
That is the essence of taqwa; avoiding the disobedience of Allah and committing to His obedience. So try to avoid activities you know make you fall into such sins.
For example, if there are certain social media pages or platforms you follow that post immoral posts, then unfollow them.
Some of those platforms we follow as “entertainment” unfortunately promote content that is harmful on many levels. They drive people to fall into sins of the eyes/ears/heart … etc. So break free from such outlets and unfollow them to maintain your spiritual health.
When you break free from wasting time, you will find that you have more time to work on matters that are important, enriching, and beneficial to you. You can work on growing a useful habit. Or you can find more time to contribute to and benefit your community and neighborhood.
So, invest your life in what matters. And don’t let yourself sink in useful, harmful activities that waste time and waste life and drive people away from Allah.
2- Make sure to prioritize salah over all other matters of your life. Praying on time is a priority. Do not allow life to distract you or tempt you to lose focus in prayer, miss praying on time, or miss realizing the significance and importance of prayer.
Allah will ask us about our prayer first. So keep this always in mind. On The Day when Allah will ask us about our prayer, any other task we left prayer for will be a source of misery.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
The first of man’s deeds for which he will be called to account on the Day of Resurrection will be Salat. If it is found to be perfect, he will be safe and successful; but if it is incomplete, he will be unfortunate and a loser. (At- Tirmidhi)
3- Try fasting the voluntary fasts. You can aim to fast 13th, 14th, and 15th of every hijri month. Their reward is enormous.
The Prophet said:
Fasting three days of each month is fasting for a lifetime, and the shining days of Al-Bid, the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth. (Sunan an-Nasa’i)
If you find yourself able and it’s in your capacity, you can try fasting Mondays and Thursdays whenever you can to revive the blessed sunnah of the Prophet and witness great spiritual and health benefits.
Above all, start everything you do with Bismillah, the remembrance of Allah always opens doors and unlocks the seal on the hearts.
I hope this helps answer your question.
Salam and please keep in touch.
(From Ask About Islam archives)
Please continue feeding your curiosity, and find more info in the following links:
http://aboutislam.net/shariah/refine-your-heart/advice/lord-ramadan-lord-entire-year/
http://aboutislam.net/shariah/refine-your-heart/advice/5-ways-keep-ramadan-momentum-alive/