In a few days, Allah willing, we will be receiving the blessed month of Ramadan … the month which the believers’ hearts long for.
It is a season for the hearts to regain their purity and for people to salvage their conscience after being polluted by the overwhelming desires and the pleasures of this worldly life.
Allah has blessed us with this great month… it is an honorable guest which our Salaf (righteous predecessors) used to supplicate Allah earnestly to make them live long enough to witness. It is the best month in the year during which Allah revealed the Quran and blessed it with a night which is better than one thousand months, plus many other distinct features with which Allah distinguished it.
Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, said: “O people! You are being approached by a blessed month. Allah made fasting within it an obligation. The doors of Paradise will be opened and the doors of Hell will be closed, and the devils will be chained. It is a month which contains a night that is better than one thousand months; he who is deprived from its blessings is truly the deprived one”.[Ahmad and An-Nasaa’i]
Indeed, this is the best news one can receive; why would the believer not rejoice when the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are sealed? How can any sane person not rejoice to the chaining of the devils? How can devout worshippers not rejoice when worshipping in one night is better than one thousand months? Undoubtedly, the virtues of this month are countless.
This great occasion, however, comes in a time that the Muslim nation is defeated, surrounded by many impediments and ailments and the Muslims are suffering from calamities, disunity and humiliation. Therefore, it is time to review this painful condition and recognize the real causes of weakness and ailments.
As we receive Ramadan, it is time for us to bid farewell to all our sufferings! We cannot, however, do that except by holding fast to the path of the Quran and Sunnah, by working hard and being sincere with Allah.
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, gave a comprehensive clarification of the conditions for victory and the causes of defeat for the Muslim nation by saying: “If people break the covenant of Allah and His Messenger, Allah will send an external enemy against them who will seize some of their possessions; If they do not rule by the Book of Allah, nor attempt to implement everything in it, Allah will spread enmity among them.”[Ibn Maajah]
Thus, breaking the covenant of Allah and His Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, or in other words, disobeying Allah and His Messenger, , is one of the reasons for its defeat and being subjugated by its enemies. Likewise, ruling by other than the rulings of Allah is the reason for the poverty, disunity and conflict which is occurring among the Muslims.
How can the Muslims expect Allah to grant them victory while they are discarding prayers, refusing to pay Zakah (obligatory charity)and dealing in interest? What can they expect when alcoholic drinks and nightclubs become prevalent in their lands? What happens when evil becomes widespread? The Prophet, was once asked: “Will we be punished by disasters which befall us while we have righteous people amongst us?’ he, replied: “Yes, if evil becomes widespread.”[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Additionally, the unrestrained love for this life and preferring it to the Hereafter has further weakened the Muslim nation. It is this predicament that gave its enemies the power to dictate many of its affairs, seize its wealth, conquer its lands and severely persecute the Muslims. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Beware! The nations all over the world shall join forces against you as diners gather around their plate of food”. The companions asked: “O Messenger of Allah! Is that because we will be few in number then?” He said: “No, rather you will be many, but you will only be as (worthless as) the scum after a flood. The fear of you shall be removed from the hearts of your enemies and Wahn will be put into your hearts”. The companions, may Allah be pleased with them, asked: “What is Wahn?” He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, answered: “To love this life and detest death”. Ahmad and others]
Hence, we must desist from heedlessness as Almighty Allah has condemned the heedless and praised the pious.
If Muslims truly wish for victory, then they must change what is in themselves, as Allah Says (what means): “…Indeed Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves …” [Quran 13:11]. Obeying Allah and His Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is the only source of victory. Allah Says (what means): “O you who have believed, if you support Allah, He will support you and plant firmly your feet.” [Quran 47: 7]
The fortunate is the one who uses his time to work for the Hereafter and neither worldly commitment nor its desires distract him from fulfilling the rights of his Lord. Letus utilize the opportunity of Ramadan and try to change the situation of the Muslim nation which starts with me and you changing ourselves.