SHAWWAL STEPS IN
What comes next after Ramadan'? First let's state the very obvious. After Ramadan comes the month of Shawwal, the tenth of the twelve months of the Islamic Hiijah calendar. The first day of Shawwal is Eid-ul-Fitri, on that day, no fast is allowed for “Rasulullah (PBUH) prohibited fasting on Eid-ul-Fitri because you have just broken your fast of Ramadan” (Ahmad).
After the merry of the festival comes yet another fast the sittah Shawwal i.e the fast of six days of Shawwal.
“He who observed the fast of Ramadan”,
the Prophet (PBUH) counselled:
“and then followed it with six fasts of Shawwal, it would be as if he fasted perpetually” (Muslim).
Finally, the preparation for Hajj pilgrimage starts from this month of Shawwal.
Then there is the not-so-obvious; out of Ramadan comes a fitter, stronger and sincerity, devotion, obedience and submission to Allah; been raised to a lofty spiritual height, a special class and an esteemed position, You are far apart from the multitude because your sins are forgiven
(He who fasts Ramadan, due to iman and hoping for reward from Allah then his previous sins are forgiven (Bukhari),
your good deeds are rewarded in multitudes. Allah says:
"fasting is for Me and I shall reward it" (Muslim)
and you are bound for Paradise
"Indeed there is a gate of Paradise called ar-Rayyan (the fragrant Quencher) on the Day of Resurrection are those who fast will enter through it; no one enters it except for them and when they have entered, it is closed so that no one enter it.” (Bukhari)
insha-Allah. After achieving this status, after becoming one of the SELECT, why would you want to join the multitude of men? Is there any special attraction in the ways of the multitude that you will fritter away the discipline, the devotion, the sincerity and the felicity you have gained in Ramadan in order to join them?
WAYS OF THE MULTITUDE
The first way of the multitude is rebellion and disobedience. Allah says in the Blessed Qur’an that
"most of them We found not [true] to their covenant: but most of them We found rebellious, and disobedient" (Q7:102);
and He confirms this further
“...And truly most men are rebellious". (Q5:49)
And this is the way it truly is. Often, when the multitude gets out of human control, it is derisively called a mob. Yet it is this mob; this multitude that has taken control of our lives and has set up a way of life that is in direct opposition to the way of life sanctioned by Allah (AI-Islam).
Check it out; the entire living system of man today is completely different from that revealed by Allah, the Lord of the worlds, and practicalised for humanity by His Messenger, Muhammed (PBUH): the social system, the economic system, the system of justice and even the dress code. Now this is where you should be different. Take a look at yourself; the whole purpose of fasting in Ramadan was to teach you obedience and submission. Your life style in that blessed month (sleeping, eating, thoughts, actions, e.t.c.) were regulated only by Allah. Now, would you lose all of that because you are eager to join the multitude? Would you go back to the warm embrace of your old ways or would you rather stay away and live on the lofty plains of Islam?
Gross ingratitude is another of the ways of the multitude. Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful" (Q1:3) has bestowed His special grace on mankind: "Verily We created man from a drop of mingled sperm, in order to try him: so We gave him (the gifts) of hearing and sight. 'We showed him the way: whether he be grateful or ungrateful" (Q76:2-3).
"Such is He ..... the Merciful ..... who created all things in the best way" (Q32. 6-7) for markind; "verily your Lord is full of grace to mankind: yet most of them are ungrateful" (Q27:73) indeed, "most men averse (to aught) but (rank) ingratitude" (Q25: 50)
So why should you join these ungrateful multitude after you have shown gratitude to Allah by submitting to Him in true worship during the fasting, period ". The pangs of fasting has taught you the merit of gratitude according to the plea of Muhammad Rasulullah (PBUH):
" ... my Lord ... When I am hungry, make me humble before You and remember You and that when I am filled, make me praise You and be thankful to You" (Trimidhi).
Rather, it is better for you to remain in the good company of the few good men who heed Allah's command:
"exercise thanks… but few of my servants are grateful.” (Q34:13)
IGNORANCE AND FALSEHOOD
Stop to think: why are the multitude of men rebellious and ungrateful to Allah, their Creator and their Cherisher? The answer is clear, Ignorance.
“If indeed you ask them who has created the heavens and the earth. …they will certainly reply “Allah”. How then are they deluded from the truth?" (Q29:61).
Simply because
"...most of them understand not" (Q29:63).
Here again, you are different because you have understanding. With your fasting, you have displayed the fear of Allah and
"those truly fear Allah ... who have knowledge"(Q35:28),
Also,
"Allah will raise up to (suitable) ranks ... those of you ... who have knowledge" (Q58:11).
Now that true knowledge and obedience has exalted you to greater height, would you descend to the low level of the multitude because of dun ya (this world)?
Take note that the multitude of men follow nothing but falsehood. That is why they are far from the path of Allah:
"Were you to follow the common run of those on earth, they will lead you away from the Way of Allah. They follow nothing but conjecture: they do nothing but lie". (Q6:116)
For this Allah has cursed them:
"Cursed be the conjecturers" (Q51:10),
because
".... most of them ignore (the truth)" (Q6:111):
In contrast, you are on the path of truth;
"the Truth (which) stands out clear from Error ... " (Q2:256);
the
"truth which guides to virtue and virtue which guides to Paradise”;
according to Rasulullah (Muslim). With your sincere fast, you had refrained from falsehood and
"…has grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks" (Q2:256).
Why break it to join the multitude?
Finally, the multitude is wasteful, destructive and takes actions that are later regretted just as a mob does. Al-Quran Majeed confirms this:
"The unbelievers spend their wealth to hinder (men) from the path of Allah and so will they continue to spend; but in the end they will have (only) regrets and sighs; at length they will be overcome: and the unbelievers will be gathered together to HELL" (Q8:36).
On the other hand, you know that wealth is from Allah and is best spent on His cause. Hence you have-spent your wealth for zakaat (almsgiving), for sadaqah (voluntary charity), for zakaat-il-fitr (grains zakaat) and on various programmes that took place in the month of Ramadan. You know you were giving
"to Allah a beautiful loan which Allah will double .... And multiply many times" (Q2:245).
Now would you rather spend on the vanities of this world?
FAIR IN THE EYES:
It must be clear by now that you must not join the multitude. You must stay away from the multitude.
You must not descend from the pinnacle of piety that you have been placed after the fast of Ramadan to the valley of vanities of the multitude of men. For indeed, most of men are driven by vanities and that is why they are far away from the Straight Path of Allah. The Qur 'an affirms this:
"Fair in the eyes of men is the love of things they covet: women and sons; heaped-up hoards of gold and silver; horses branded (for blood and excellence) and (wealth of) cattle and well-tilled land. Such are the possessions of this world's life, but with Allah is the best of goals (to return to)". (Q3:14)
Pleasures of this world are these goals to which the multitude of men are perpetually attracted: women for love, sons for strength and pride, hoarded riches in precious metals and hard or soft currencies to procure luxuries, the best and the finest pedigree of horses or automobiles, planes, yatch and all kinds of machines; real estate for agriculture as well as to create grandeur of living. It is for these that they have missed the best of goals to return to. This pursuit of wealth has replaced the true pursuit of life (submission to the will of Allah (Q51:56)) in their lives and so it has become their Lord instead of Allah, the true and only Lord of the worlds and the Creator of all things.
This is where you are different and why you should stay away from the multitude. Allah invites you away from this maddening crowd with something that is far better:
"Shall I give you glad tidings of things far better than these? For the righteous are Gardens in nearness to their Lord ... and the good pleasure of Allah, for in Allah's sight are (all) His servants, (namely) those who say: "Our Lord? We have indeed believed: forgive us, then, our sins and save us from the agony of the fire; those who show patience (firmness and self-control), who are true (in words and deed), who worship devoutly; who spend (in the way of Allah) and who pray for forgiveness in the early hours of the morning" (Q3:15-17).
Faith, humility and hope plus the virtues of patience, self-restraint, truthfulness, sincerity, deep and earnest spiritual worship, love for fellow men as displayed in charity and the self-discipline to approach Allah with humility at the first and each day and in each act. These are the characteristics of the select few of Allah,
"those formost (in faith) (who) will be foremost in the Hereafter, these will be those nearest to Allah ... a few from those of later time. "(Q56:10-14)
How does this all translate to specific acts?
Amr ibn Abasah (RA), a notable companion, sought this quest from the Messenger of Allah (PBUH). He asked him 'what is Islam?' The Prophet (PBUH) said:
"Purity of speech and hospitality. " (Q24:21 & Q76:8-9)
'What is faith?' "Patience and beneficence."(Q2:46)
'Who is best in Islam?'
"He from whose tongue and hands the Muslims are safe. " (Q49:10)
'What is the best point of faith?'
"A kindly disposition (Q2: 195)
and that you love for the sake of Allah and hate for the sake of Him (Q19:96)"
What is the best hijrah (migration)?'
"That you fly from what your Lord, Allah, hates." (Q3:31-32).
What is the best prayer?'
"A long confirmed piety." (Q59:18-19).
Only few of men, destined for Allah's pleasure, would do these; shouldn't you join them and stay away from the multitude?
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited