http://www.islaam.net/display/display_article_printview.php?id=372
Wednesday, 11 Shawwaal 1422 AH / 26th December 2001 CE
Life After Ramadan
by Imaam al-Haramain Abdul Muhsin Ibn Muhammad Al-Qaasim
Shawwaal 3, 1421 A.H. (December 27, 2000)
All praise is due to Allaah. We thank Him, we seek for
His help and forgiveness. We also seek His refuge against the evils of
our souls and that of our deeds. Whoever Allaah guides,
nobody can mislead him, and whoever He misleads will never have no
guide. I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship
except Allaah and that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger.
May He bestow Peace and blessing upon this noble Prophet,
his family and companions.
Fellow Muslims! Fear Allaah as He should be feared for,
the fear of Allaah is the best treasure for you.
Dear Muslims! Months, days and years are made to determine
lifespan and to afford people the oppurtunity to perform good
deeds. Further, death do patrol day and night to take
the souls of those whose time is due and you shall be addressed on the
Day of Ressurection on account of your deeds. It is then
that your Lord will say:
“These are only your deeds that has been recorded for you and for which
I am
going to reward you. So, whoever gets a good reward should be thankful
to
Allaah and whoever gets otherwise should only blame himself.”
Dear brothers! Your month of Ramadan has now gone with
your deeds. Let those who have committed wrong among you
quickly repent and mend their ways before Door of Repentance
is closed and let those who have done good continue on the
same for, the best of all acts of obedience are the the
ones followed up with its like. Be concerned more over the acceptance
of your deeds than over the deeds itself for, Allaah does
not accept deeds except from the pious ones. Also, beware of
following up good deeds with bad ones because, if we say
that good deeds eradicate bad ones, it is also not impossible that bad
deeds destroy good ones.
Brothers in faith! You were - during the just concluded
month of righteous - fasting in the day, praying in the night and doing
different kinds of sacrificial acts in oder to get reward
and to be saved from the Fire. With the depature of this month, a stage
of our live has passed. Such is how we pass days of this
life in stages on our way to the everlasting abode. Indeed,
continuation of good deeds at all time is character of
righteous people for, acts of obedience do not have a specific time; it
is
rather Allaah’s unconditional right upon His servants
as long as they are alive. Though, month of Ramadaan is an opportunity
for the faithfuls to race with one another towards good
deeds and an opportunity to direct one’s soul towards meritorious acts
and keep it from vices; yet, it is quite incumbent on
Muslims to remain on the path of righteousness even after Ramadaan.
Worshipping Allaah should not be restricted to Ramadaan
alone for, there is no end to Muslim’s worship except when he dies.
What evil people those who worship only time and do not
know Allaah except in Ramadaan!
Dear Muslims! Certainly, the acceptance and rejection of
deeds in this month have signs. Among the signs of acceptance of
good deed is when it is followed up by good deeds and
it is among the signs of rejection to follow up one’s good deeds with evil
ones. Therefore, follow up the good deeds with its like,
it will be a sign of acceptance of that good deed and follow up your evil
deeds with good ones, that will indicate that those evil
deeds have been overlooked. Allaah says:
“Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds (i.e. small sins). That is
a
reminder (an advice) for the mindful (those who accept advice)." (Hood
11:114)
The Prophet saws also said:
“Fear Allaah wherever you
are, follow up the evil deed with good one it will remove it and relate
with people with good
conduct.” (Reported by At-Tirmidhee)
Let those who are determined to go back to sins after Ramadaan
know that Allaah is always pleased with those who obey
Him regardless of the month the obedience takes place
and is angry with those who disobey Him irrespective of the month the
disobedience takes place. The essence of posperity lies
in long life and good deeds and a person’s continuation of good deeds
without restricting it to a certain period, particular
month or special place is a sign of one’s righteousness and acceptance
of his
good deeds.
Fellow Muslims! Though Ramadaan season is now gone, yet,
fasting is still recommended in other months. The Messenger of
Allaah saws has recommended fasting on Mondays and Thursdays.
He said:
“Deeds are presented to
Allaah on Mondays and Thursdays and I would like that my deeds be presented
while I am
fasting."
It is also reported that he admonished Aboo Hurayrah ra thus:
"Fasting for three days
in every month is (equal to) fasting forever." (Reported by Al-Bukhaaree
and Muslim).
He also said:
Whoever fasts in the month
of Ramadaan and then follows it with six days fasting in Shawwaal has done
as if he has fast
for live." (Reported by
Muslim)
Though, night prayer during Ramadaan might have gone; yet,
the night prayers throughout the year is also recommended. It
has been authentically reported from the Prophet saws
that
"Allaah use to descend to
the nearest heaven to this world when it is the last third of the night
and say: 'Who is going to call
Me that I may answer him?
Who is going to ask from Me that I may give to him? Who is going to seek
for my Forgiveness
that I may forgive him?"
Therefore, the most pleasing to Allaah of all acts are the ones that are continuously done.
Fellow Muslims! While there are a set of youths who during
the noble month of Ramadan were busy passing their time in
lustful things, sins and acts of obedience, there are
others who were busy doing deeds of righteousness such as I‘tikaaf in the
Houses of Allaah severing all ties with fellow creatures
and meditating with the Creator. They gave obedience of their Lord
preference over their own desires. You would see them
bowing, prostrating and reciting the Glorious Qur’aan. Such youths
are the hope and pride of this Ummah.
Dear Muslims! Fear Alllaah for fear of Allaah is the head
of all matters. Obey Allaah and keep away from His restrictions,
you will achieve His pleasure and be saved from His torment.
Do not go back to sins and disobedience so as not to be entitled
to His punishment.
Dear brothers, thank your Lord for making you complete
the fasting of this month. Enjoy your Eid by remaining consistent on
the those good deeds and keep away from undesirable things
that are capable of removing Allaah’s favors from you. One of
our righteous predecessors said:
“Each day in which no act
of disobedience to Allaah is committed is Eid and each day a believer spent
in acts of obedience to his Lord
is Eid”
**********************************************************************
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they
are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify
the system manager.
**********************************************************************
