Now the hard work starts. It is really hard because today is not like yesterday or the day before it or even the day before that. Yesterday and as with the previous days, snacking, sipping and staring weren’t much of a problem, but from today and for the next one month, I have to consciously tell myself, ‘I’m fasting.’ Specifically today is hard work because flipping a handful of snacks into my vociferous mouth is an endemic habit which is not going to stop suddenly.
The real hard work is in keeping the intention and working towards it. What do you intend to achieve this Ramadan? In other words, where are you going? If you are on a journey without any clue of where you are going, how will you know if you have reached your destination? The journey of Ramadan starts with an intention. Generally, it is “to fast the whole month of Ramadan as commanded by Allah to achieve God Consciousness (taqwah).” Allah informs us in the Qur'an, “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may have taqwah (self-restraint, fear and consciousness of God).” Q2 verse 183
Specifically, what does this mean to you as a fasting Muslim in Ramadan? It means you’ve got to work hard to be transformed. Yes, taqwah transforms and you need to have that intention this Ramadan, you will become a better person by acquiring one or two better performance habits and or dumping one or two shameful or sinful habit. Now you realise that snack consciousness is not the hard work, but acquiring God consciousness is. Now you will agree that Ramadan is not a joke, a play, a passing phase. It is a serious, well thought and profitable business. It is the time for action and reform. Ramadan is a rare opportunity and we will be unfortunate if we do not undertake it diligently, and guard ourselves with military alacrity and explore it in selfishly selfless ways. The Prophet(PBUH) was angry with anyone who does not seize the opportunities in Ramadan. According to Abu Hurayrah, the Rasul said, “...let the nose of that person be smeared with dust who has the opportunity to see the month of Ramadan and it comes to an end without his securing pardon for himself....” (Tirmidhi)
It is not going to be an easy sail. Shaytan has vowed to prevent us from transforming our lives. “…‘I will mislead them and I will create in them false desires; I will order them …to change the (fair) nature created by Allah.’ Whoever forsaking Allah takes Satan for a friend has of a surety suffered a loss that is manifest.” (Qur'an 4 verse 119) But Allah has paved the path for those who intend well and work hard towards their intention. The Prophet (PBUH) said, "When the first night of Ramadan comes, the devils and the rebellious jinn are chained, the gates of Hell are locked and not one of them is opened; the gates of Paradise are opened and not one of them is locked; and a crier calls, 'You who desire what is good, come forward, and you who desire evil, refrain.' Some are freed from Hell by Allah, and that happens every night." (Al-Hakim)
So ask yourself why you are fasting and what you want to achieve by it. Make sure you are not fasting because of tradition or custom, parental pressure, social relevance, dietary or weight loss. Fast only to seek the pleasure of God through acquiring taqwah and decide quickly on what ways you want to be ‘taqwalised’ by the end of Ramadan, set your specific goals and work hard towards them. May Allah accept our intentions and efforts from us. Amin.
- Contributed by Shamsideen AbuSuad, UK.
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