Ramadan Reflection

Hey everyone!

We meet again!! I hope you guys are doing just fine! (just try to be fine, and you'll be fine :-) )

I hope that you guys who are fasting during this Ramadhan continue to have the strength both physically and mentally. May Allah give us the strength we need to go through this fasting month. A month full of piety, purity and forgiveness. All for Allah, and only for His forgiveness.

The month of Ramadan has arrived on the 18th of June and it has been 6 days since Ramadan opened the doors for us. So why is Ramadan so very special? Among the reasons is that in this month, the holy book, which is the Quran was revealed and sent down to Earth. In the month of Ramadan, there will be Lailatul Qadar, a night better than a thousand other nights can be encountered by some Muslims. 

I know that we are supposed to get closer to God every single day but Ramadan has really opened my eyes and mind to seek forgiveness and sympathy from God. Just imagine, every single day, I'll go out of the house for school, then come back home at around 4 or 5 or 6 or 7pm. It's already very late and hence I'll do my prayers in a rush and sometimes even thinking about my homework that's piling up and waiting for me to finish them up. There's a lot running through my head and sometimes I feel like there's no point in life if my work is just to do work, work, and more work. (homework and other stuff I mean...) Even when I'm praying to God, there isn't much of a sense of forgiveness or sincerity to Him. Why? Because of the things that life has put me through everyday that make me feel like I'm in a rush and as if time is running very very very fast. Most of the time I don't even have the time to read the Quran because of my packed day and that make me even more neglect my duty as a Muslim to pray to God and do the things that He likes like reading the Quran and asking for forgiveness from Him. 

Now you see, I feel really grateful that Ramadan has finally came to greet us and I'm ever so thankful that this year, Ramadan occurs during the school holidays. Or else, I don't think I might even be writing this blog and reflecting about myself during Ramadan. Or else, I won't be as much as praying to God as I am trying to do right now. I won't be doing things that I am supposed to do as a Muslim. During Ramadan, I finally found the time. The time for myself to reflect about myself as a Muslim, my wrong-doings, seeking for His forgiveness, reading the Holy book and starting fast at 5am as well as breaking fast together with my loved ones. When I am schooling, it is very rare that my family sit down together like 5/5 of us to eat dinner. Even for breakfast, everyone would be either busy preparing their own stuff or rushing to eat breakfast and then scurry off for school/work. Sometimes, we don't even have the time to ask each other how are we doing or joke around. It's as if we're chasing time, more than trying to ask for His blessing, more than we appreciate the things around us. Therefore, I am really thankful that Ramadan has come at the right time and gives me the opportunity to kind of 'repent' and 'pay-back' to what I lacked during my schooldays. 

Not only that, Ramadan also gives us an opportunity to adopt a healthy lifestyle with hunger and thirst by fasting. Fasting cleanses our bodies and provides an opportunity for the system in our body to take a break. This is also the month in which Allah opens the gates of forgiveness to his people. In this month Allah opens the gates of heaven and closes the gates of hell and also chains the devils so that us Muslims can pray to Him without any disturbances and negative influence from the devils.

Henceforth, take advantage of this month with a lot of praying, praying to Him to grant your wishes and hopes you have and give charity to those in need. In this blessed month, let us strengthen our faith and piety to Him, the only One. Do what is good while you still can, or you will regret for the rest of your life because it is only in Ramadan that your good deeds are multiplied by 70 times and your past wrong-doings will be forgiven.

Before I end-off, here’s a poem about Ramadan for you guys! I hope it will inspire you and motivate you to do good this Ramadan yea! :-)

In the name of Allah, the most Merciful, the most Kind

A blessed month is casting its shadow upon us
A night of this month is better than a thousand months
Bear with patience for the sake of Ar-Rahman
It's a continuous training to strengthen our Iman.

Glory be to Allah who sent Ramadan as a mercy to mankind
Its a purification of our soul, our heart, and our mind
With the most sincere devotion and love we fast 
To be cleansed and free from sins of the past

Glorified is He, who chose this holy month,
To test our patience and fill our hearts with warmth
Of his Divine Light, His blessings shall glow,
The Seer of the unseen, all He does know

Throughout this month we weep and repent;
Now is the time to strongly lament.
And those who shun this sacred month;
on the Day of Reckoning will face the brunt.

In the last ten nights, hides the Night of Decree;
Allah then awaits for his slaves to plea.

The angels descend with Jibrail in the lead;
To check on the steadfast and record every deed.

A feeling of grief now fills my heart;
As the month of Ramadhan will soon depart.
So lets make a start and worship Him alone;
Now that the worth of this month is known.

Praying that everyone (including me) will change for the better,
Diana <3