Ramadan is just 11 days away and as I am writing this post today I was thinking my Ramadan can be different this year, what changes should i do? What is it that I need to fix?
As I decluttered and fixed a lot of tangible things, it was the time to let go of some great emotions that are buried deep down in the heart. And it was a challenging task. Many times we all hold some painful emotions and scarring memories deep down in the heart whose weight weighs more than the mountain. After hours of introspection i decided to let go of them, Jannah is worth every sacrifice. I didn't have the courage to do it, as the thoughts of it refreshed my memories of pain, agony caused by people and situations. What I thought was forgiven was still not forgotten.
Amazed at the situation of my heart, looking at the sky with pain in the heart, tears in my eyes, hoping that Allah is Hearing me, seeing me and He knows every thought crossing my heart, I was desperately looking for a sign. The sun was setting, the silent winds were stuttering and flocks of birds were returning to their nest. I just wished that I could just fly and flap my wings and off load all my burdens just as these birds.
I suddenly recollected the saying of Ibn Al-Qayyim (ra),
The best life is attained by the blessed (Souls) through Sabr,
And they rise to the highest degrees through their Shukr
So they fly on the wings of Sabr and Shukr
To the gardens of delight (JANNAH)
That is the bounty of Allah that He bestows upon whomsoever He will,
And Allah is the Owner of the Great Bounty.
As I kept repeating this statement I realized I already have wings, all that I have to do is fly and without understanding the dynamics of flying i have been flying for long to the gardens of Delight, often losing the vision of destination i.e. Jannah
Most often during testing times, we develop patience by choice or we are forced by the situation. But we seldom think of Shukr in the midst of the trials, thus Jeopardizing the flying dynamics. And we end up in a depressing cycle of anxieties, doubts, uncertainties, and despair.
Being grateful along with showing patience in the midst of chaos is important, knowing that our situation or heartbreak or pain could have been much more than as is now, will balance the Believers heart as they tread the path to Jannah, without causing deep seated pain and emotions settling in the heart and causing long term trauma and triggers. Understanding this perspective in life is important for the perfection of Iman, as Ibn al Qayyim (ra) said, “Iman is two halves, Half is Sabr (Patience), Half is Shukr (Gratitude).
This Ramadan is definitely going to be different for me, as I decided to flap both my wings and glide through the every stormy winds so that I could fly high above the storm and make it to Jannah. The month of Quran, the month of forgiveness, the month of every goodness is approaching us and I want to be of those whose neck is redeemed from the fire of hell. For me to fly off the ground I decided to let go of the anchor of painful emotions and scarring memories. I wrote about my experience of pain and I also wrote how it has shaped me, made me strong as a person, and when I measured both, all I said was Alhamdulillah for every person, every experience and every pain. Allah knew and I didn’t.
If we don't want to lose the blessing of life, people and friends, be grateful for everything along with showing patience, because with Gratitude, blessings only increase, “And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]” (Surah Ibrahim verse 7)
As we enter ramadan, lets not forget to use both our wings in every given situation and circumstance, so that we can come out strong at the end of Ramadan, well armored to foil the plots of shaytan, as he is determined to make us ungrateful by magnifying our pains worries and difficulties caused by people and situations through whispering,
“I will certainly come to them from before them and from behind them, and from the right-hand side and from the left-hand side,
and You (Allah) shall not find most of them thankful” (Surah ‘Aaraf, verse 17)
Remember Prophet (saw) took the hand of Mu’aadh ibn Jabal and said:
“O Mu’aadh, by Allah I love you, by Allah I love you.”
Then he said, “I advise you, O Mu’aadh, do not fail to say this after every prayer:
O Allah help me to remember You, to thank You and to worship You properly.
اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنِّي عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ وَشُكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ "
اللهم اجعلنا من الصابرين والشاكرين
oh Allah make us of those who are Patient and grateful. Ameen
How do you plan to prepare yourself for Ramadan? Let us know in the comments below.
