RAMADHAN is over. The blessed month, which is full of spiritual and physical benefits, has left us and no one knows whether we will be able to meet the next Ramadhan — the month that will again offer us a period of fasting, reflection, devotion, generosity and sacrifice.
Now, we are in the month of Syawal, which is the time to celebrate victory against negative values and apparently, the true meaning of victory lies inside our heart.
No one can change us but we ourselves. Let's make this Syawal as the beginning of our new life, as transforming ourselves into a new person would be a great victory.
Do we really get the victory? Do we really pass all of the tests during the fasting month that we deserve a chance to celebrate the victory?
Fasting develops self-control and helps us to overcome selfishness, greed, laziness and other faults. Fasting teaches us to control the love for comfort. Consequently, the feelings and lessons we experience during Ramadhan should stay with us throughout the year. Fasting has made us to feel the quality of piety and devotion during Ramadhan. So, now, are we ready to strive to make the feelings and attitude stay with us during our "normal" lives? Because, this is the true goal and test of Ramadhan, anyway.
It is also in this context that we need to seriously, sincerely and appropriately appreciate and strive to adopt the call by imams nationwide during the Aidil Fitri morning prayers. Imams throughout the country
urged Muslims to remain patient and draw strength from their faith in Allah (SWT) in times of calamity and cleanse the habit of wasting as it could cause hardship to the individual and those around him.
.........
The imam also emphasised the power of patience, perseverance and keredhaan (submission to the will of Allah) in the face of any calamity as they are seen as acts of Allah (SWT).
"Instead of being angry or expressing despair at unfortunate turns of events, one should readily accept them (as Qada and Qadar of Allah SWT), because Allah (SWT) loves those who exercise patience in their everyday life."
The congregation was also advised to spend wisely and stop the habit of wasting as it would lead to the accumulation of debts leading to a Muslim individual falling into poverty. This, ultimately, would affect the amal ibadah (the deeds and acts of worship) of the individual.
Hopefully, we have managed to gain victory over all the challenges throughout Ramadhan and while we celebrate the victory throughout Syawal, let us engage in introspection. Let's do self-examination on our achievement in the fasting month. Did we really managed to purify our souls and set our thinking right? Did fasting really strengthened not only our bodies but also our spirits?
May Allah accept our fasting, forgive our sins, and guide us all to the Straight Path. May Allah bless us all throughout the year, with His forgiveness, mercy, and peace, and bring us all closer to Him and to each other. May Allah give us the chance to meet, enjoy and gain all the benefits of the next Ramadhan. Amin
...excerpts taken from
The Brunei Times
