Ramadan is almost here Alhamdulilah and with the launch of Ramadan Reflections- The 10 minute journal, I thought I would share the inspiration behind the journal.  Every day, I try to read something beneficial but some days, like a cheap buffet, I am guilty of stuffing myself with useless information.  I have to constantly remind myself that in my quest to seek knowledge, I need to make sure that, that knowledge is the right kind of knowledge. So in preparation for Ramadan here is a thought-provoking reflection by Shaykh Sulaymaan Ar- Ruhaylee (hafidahu Allaah).

The first point of reflection:

…is a point of contemplation and this point – O servants of Allah- is that last year we welcomed Ramadan and then bade it farewell. Then, we waited for the next Ramadan and saw it as being far away. Yet. here it is upon us and one of us says to himself or his brother.

‘How fast the days have past. I swear by Allah it was as if it was yesterday we bade farewell to the last Ramadan and here it is today we begin the current Ramadan.’
Verily this is the reality of the days, they quickly pass us by and our appointed times have diminished. One of us says -0 servants of Allah- if the year passes by, My age has increased a year’ but the reality of the affair is that certainly his age has decreased by a year as one’s age is limited and one’s appointed time is limited. And verily the reality of the affair is that it is not but steps (closer to death) and Allah knows best when those steps will end. Verily, O servants of Allah, it is but just days which we spend and they spend us as they quickly move us to our appointed time.

Verily, this reality – 0 servants of Allah – reminds us of the statement of Our Lord the Most High:
And put forward to them the example of the life of this world, it is like the water (rain) which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it, and becomes fresh and green. But (later) it becomes dry and broken pieces, which the winds scatter. And Allah is Able to do everything. [Al-Kahf: 45]

Verily this life – O servants of Allah- quickly passes us by, it quickly passes us by and our condition is not except three: Youth, then old age and then death. (Like the line of poetry says):
‘The last thing an individual is called is ‘old man ‘ and what follows that from the names he is given is ‘the deceased’.
So glad tidings – O servants of Allah- for the one who reflects upon that which has passed and revived the present and what will come with righteous actions.

{So reflect O you who have intellects}

The second point of reflection is a reminder

Last year, 0 servants of Allah, Ramadan came upon us and we exerted ourselves a little and were negligent in many ways. We were lazy in many ways and were surprised when Ramadan ended and we bade it farewell. We were regretful of our negligence therein and promised ourselves that if we make it to the next Ramadan, we would exert ourselves in worship and that we would not be negligent or lazy.

Here we are, 0 servants of Allah, we have begun Ramadan and days from it have passed us by. So what have we done regarding our promises? Have we been generous with ourselves by exerting ourselves in these blessed days or have we returned to what we were upon before; exerting ourselves a little and being negligent a lot? It is incumbent, O servants of Allah, to remember our condition last Ramadan so that we can improve our condition in this current Ramadan as it is only a minute number of days, 0 servants of Allah, before it ends.

Thus, it is obligatory upon us to honor ourselves by exerting ourselves in acts obedience as anyone of us does not know if he will or will not make it to the next Ramadan. How many of our loved ones fasted with us last Ramadan, but today they are lost among us and have entered their graves. Allah knows best about our situation. Therefore, we need to make the most of this Ramadan doing righteous deeds as in this lies our happiness in this life and the next.

The original piece to this can be found here and here

Pssss,

I don’t know why I am whispering but if you want to learn more about Ramadan Reflection  and see how it can help you this Ramadan,  just look for the book in the image and click on it. Meet you over on the other side where I am most likely screaming, out of excitement (alhamdulillah)

The 10 Minute Journal (is hiding in there somewhere)

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