English Column: How’s your Ramadan?

“Don’t lose hope, still have time”
Picture by Shattered Infinity
http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplyshutterbug/5349882579/in/photostream/

The very question that whenever people asks us, we cannot answer. Even if we answered it, the answer we replied is not an honest answer.

What is the question then? The question sounds like this “How’s your Ramadan?”

I do not know what will you answer, but for me, whenever anyone posts me that question, I’ll answer between two answers. Answer number one will be a long silence and a nod in the head whereas answer number two will be “Ok laa…” (in Manglish.)

If you can answer like this “My Ramadan is great!” I’ll give you my respect of honour because that answer indicates that you have fulfilled what is asked in this hadith:

“Whoever prayed at night in it (the month of Ramadan) out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.” [1]

What is asked in the hadith above? Two things; one, you have prayed at night of Ramadan with full of sincerity only for Allah and two, you have been hoping like mad for Allah to shower His reward for you.

By saying “My Ramadan is great!”, from my point of view, you are actually saying that “my sins have been forgiven.”

It is not that I cannot answer it; it is because I don’t have the guts to say “My Ramadan is great!” I’m simply just a coward to say it.

Why?

Judging from how I treat Ramadan until today that is the 18^th of Ramadan, I surely know that Allah has not forgiven my sins.

For today’s article, let us ponder, “Do you think Allah has forgiven our SINS?”

Think back

Think back on how we have treated Ramadan for the past 17 days:

How many pages of the Quran Have we been reciting, has it reached Juz 18 yet? Even if you have finished reciting the Quran several times already, have you understood the Quran and become ‘a walking Quran’?

How many times have we asked for Allah’s forgiveness in our prayer, have our knees, legs, hands and forehead bruised because of extensive prayers?

Have we stopped cursing other people with our curse words?

Have we stopped back biting even though we know it is haraam?

How many times have we made Zikrullah? If very often, has our Zikr taught our hearts to feel quiver whenever Allah’s name is been recited to us?

Have we remembered Allah in each and every endeavour we’ve done?

Have we prayed our prayers congregationally or individually?

Have we prayed the recommended prayers (solah sunat rawatib) each time before and after fadhu prayers?

And the ultimate question to be asked, have we made all our ibadah for the past 17 days full of sincerity only for Allah?

If the answer is no, will Allah forgive us?

The deeds we’ve been doing, is it enough?

The deeds we have been doing, not only in Ramadan, but in our life, do we think it’s enough? Let’s reflect on how the Sahabahs and the prophet’s unbelievable effort in making deeds.

If we take the example of Abdullah ibn Umar (radiAllahu anhu), he says:

 ‘It took me 14 years to finish memorizing Surah Baqarah.’ He (radiAllahu anhu) was so happy after memorizing it, he said ‘and then I slaughtered a camel and I invited all the people to come.’[2]

 Because of it was an important episode in his life, he made a celebration on behalf of him  to remember that day. If we reflect on our society today, one or two years to memorize the Quran in ample time but how come Abdullah ibnu Umar took 14 years only to memorize surah Al-Baqarah?

The reason is, as narrated by one of the Tabieen, who said,

 ‘I met with some of the Sahabah of the Rasul (saws) and they told me that the way they would study Quran is that they would take ten verses and they would study these ten verses, they would study the eemaan, the ilm, and the halal and haram in the verses, then memorize the verses and then move onto the next ten verses. They would never move onto the next ten verses until they applied it. Not until it became alive and a second nature to them. I was told this by many of the Sahabah, not just one.’[3]

 Imam Ghazali said,

 ‘I memorized Quran when I was 10 years old. Because of the mode I was in (of just reciting without learning and understanding), when I grew up and was attempting to understand the Book of Allaah, I was finding it very hard because I was programmed to just repeat the verses. It took me a lot of effort and struggle until I was able to break that cycle and start thinking and contemplating over the ayaat of Allaah (swt).’[4]

 What Imam Ghazali said really reflects our modern system of teaching the Quran. The reality of our modern Quranic education is to give birth to Hafizul Quran (People who memorizes the Quran) not Ahlul Quran (People who understands and implements the Quran). What can be benefited by only memorizing the Quran? People might retort back “They can be Imam during Ramadan”. My question to those who have this same answer; “Being an Imam during Ramadan, after that what? Do you think in order to enter paradise; your ticket is only being an Imam?” I’m not saying that the Quranic intuitions in the world (in Malaysia especially) today are illegitimate and prohibited to do so, NO! But it is something out of the ordinary to really train students to understand the Quran. What if one prerequisite for them to finish from one surah to another is through them implementing what is thought in the surah?

Ok the main point is, in order for us to truly understand the messages of Allah is trough us struggling to understand it. These kids who have been memorizing the Quran do not understand what the heck that they are reciting. We have to go through struggle in order to understand the Book of Allaah. One key that might help us is that the Book of Allaah does not throw upon us gems; it does not offer us the benefit unless we are keen for learning and receiving the guidance. This is something that is interesting about the Quran. Allaah (swt) says:

 ‘And We send down from the Qur’an that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism and act on it), and it increases the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers) nothing but loss.’ [Surah Isra: Verse 82]

 For the prophet himself, although his past, present and future sins have been forgiven by Allah, he still goes through the ‘normal way’ any other slave he has to do. It narrated in hadith:

 Mughira b. Shu’ba reported that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) worshipped so much that his feet were swollen. It was said to him: (Why do you undergo so much hardship despite the fact that) Allah has pardoned for you your earlier and later sins? Thereupon he said: May I not (prove myself) to be a grateful servant (of Allah)?[5]

 Conclusion: Do you dare?

 Once again I want stress here, the deeds, we have done, will Allah forgive us?

17 days have passed, only more or less 12 days remaining. Let us fully utilize our time. Live Ramadan to the fullest. Let us try and attain Allah’s forgiveness.

The next time people asks us “How’s your Ramadan?” we know what to answer right?

Dare to say “My Ramadan is great!” huh?

I don’t think so.

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