As we move forward, the holy month of Ramadan is once again fast approaching. May we all witness it with an unshakable faith in our hearts and share its blessings.
As we come too close to Ramadan, we are all in need of an intensive self-check as to the status of our hearts and souls. It is something we must practice constantly; but for the many of us who easily get preoccupied by the worldly life, let this month of Rajab be the perfect time to examine ourselves.
Keep Burning in
I will never forget the word “unshakable”. It was year 2015 when I attended a new Muslim summit in the UAE. It’s my first, since I embraced Islam in December 2014.
It was all about how new Muslims and even those Muslims from birth must navigate through life with an unshakable faith.
Until today, I can still clearly remember the phrases, “Burn in, and never burn out.”
As it was explained and from my own understanding, we, believers are always prone to slip from the right to the wrong, may it be consciously or unconsciously. And Allah knows best.
Also, the fact that humans as we are, we may get overwhelmingly tired of life’s hardships or the opposite, which is we become too attached to the world and its pleasures.
To keep burning in is to always check the status of our hearts and souls. Seeking only Allah’s help and support, we must always renew the faith that is in our hearts.
Alhamdulillah we have all the means to do so. From reading and acting upon the Quran and the Sunnah to the remembrance of Allah in doing as much dhikr as we can.
Also, seeking beneficial knowledge is very important. To know more of who Allah is, His Names, His Attributes, what pleases and displeases Him and everything that we may benefit from to strengthen our bond with Him alone.
On the other hand, failing to do so, we will surely find all in the life purposeless and without meaning, that’s when we get so burned out.
Move Forward – Time for Self-Check
So from this early on, even before we reach the holy month of Ramadan, In Sha’ Allah, we all get to assess ourselves.
What are the unnecessary baggage we are carrying within our hearts?
What do we have in the life that’s hindering us to become closer to our Maker?
And what should we let go of to empty our hearts so we can fill it up with everything good that is for the sake of Allah alone?
How do we start to act upon the knowledge we have gained?
How do we become better Muslims? To ourselves, to our family, to the community, and then the entire ummah.
All of this and many more we must ponder upon.
Now Allah has lightened your burden, for He knows that there is weakness in you. So if there are a hundred steadfast among you, they will overcome two hundred. And if there be one thousand, they will overcome two thousand, by Allah’s Will. And Allah is with the steadfast. (Quran 8: 66)
As we do the self-check, I suggest we all write it down in a paper. The good in us that must be nourished and the bad that must be completely extinguished.
Let this month of Rajab be a month of a thorough self-examination. Only then we can truly move forward to having a meaningful Ramadan. In Sha’ Allah.
I ask Allah to accept all of our efforts only for His sake and to continuously strengthen the faith that is in our hearts.
Ameen.