What next, after Hajj has ended and the pilgrims have returned?
What lies after the end of the first ten days of Thul-Hijjah and the great Day of ‘Arafah?
What next, after offering the Udh-hiyyah (sacrificial animal slaughtered on the Day of ‘Eed Al-Adh-ha), following the Sunnah (tradition) of Prophet Ibraaheem who was the optimal role model for us in surrender and submission to Allah The Exalted. He gave us the ultimate example in obeying Allah The Exalted submissively even if the command is extremely hard to fulfill, against one's innate or acquired instincts, or entails sacrificing one’s loved ones, children or wealth for the Sake of Allah The Almighty. He displayed exceptional submission and obedience to Allah The Exalted without hesitation or delay. What is the state of Muslims, individuals and communities, after the end of such blessed spiritual seasons?
Did the pilgrims and the non-pilgrims rejuvenate their faith and return to Allah The Exalted in submission on these blessed days? Did they reconsider their ways of life and determine to reformulate their lives all over again, tuning them to what pleases Allah The Exalted and His Messenger ?
One of the signs that indicate the acceptance of a good deed is being blessed with performing another good deed afterwards, rectifying one’s bad conduct, repenting to Allah The Exalted, and turning to the rulings of the Quran and the Sunnah for judgment. These are the signs of success and acceptance. One should spend this blessed spiritual season, whether he/she is a pilgrim or non-pilgrim, with a submissive heart that abounds with faith. One should display his remorse for his sins, indulgence in wrongdoing and satisfying his lowly desires. One should also resolve to turn back to his Lord. When such a believer observes the five daily prayers in congregation in the mosque, adheres to the teachings of the Quran and the Sunnah; reading, pondering over, and acting upon them, he is preparing himself to meet his Lord with a sound heart. Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {The Day when there will not benefit [anyone] wealth or children. But only one who comes to Allah with a sound heart.} [Quran 26:88-89]
Whoever has spent this spiritual season with such a commendable feeling and trod upon this path, should rejoice at the acceptance of his good deeds as he would be granted success and would be blessed with savoring eternal happiness. Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {That is the Bounty of Allah, which He gives to whom He wills, and Allah is the Possessor of great bounty.} [Quran 62:4]
As for the one who has failed to attain such spiritual rejuvenation on these blessed days and maintained the harshness of his heart, indulged in pursuing his base desires and whims, stumbling blindly in the darkness of spiritual inattentiveness away from the mosques and the Quran, devoting himself to watching obscene and immoral content on the media such as songs, movies and magazines, indeed, this is the plain sign of loss and spiritual bankruptcy, may Allah safeguard us!
Dear readers, be keen and determined to conclude these blessed days of spiritual rejuvenation with sincere repentance and genuine submission to Allah The Almighty. When you die and leave this world and dust is thrown over you in a dark gloomy grave, your family, friends, and wealth become of no avail. Only your deeds count at that time. When you stand before your Lord on the Day of Judgment with an anxious heart, restless spirit, and wandering eyes, what are you going to say about your deeds and actions?
Dear readers, answer the call of your Lord and Creator.
Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {O you who have believed, repent to Allah with sincere repentance. Perhaps your Lord will remove from you your misdeeds and admit you into gardens beneath which rivers flow [on] the Day when Allah will not disgrace the Prophet and those who believed with him. Their light will proceed before them and on their right; they will say, "Our Lord, perfect for us our light and forgive us. Indeed, You are over all things competent."} [Quran 66:8]