By Shaykh Allaamah Saalih Al-Fawzaan
Source: http://www.al-athariyyah.com/
All praise is due to Allaah, whom through Him all good things are accomplished. He appointed an end for all that exists in this world, and death to all that is living. So that the people with faith may contemplate upon this, and hence, rush to perform righteous deeds for as long as they are capable; and not be bamboozled by false hopes. And may the peace and blessings of Allaah be upon our Prophet, Muhammad, his companions – who are the best companions (one could have) – and his family. To proceed:
Seize the Opportunity
Slaves of Allaah!
Think about how fast the days and nights haves passed. Know that as they pass so do your lives and the pages where your deeds are recorded are turned. So rush to repent and perform righteous actions before this wonderful opportunity has gone.
Ramadaan was Only a Few Days Ago
Slaves of Allah!
Yesterday, which was only a short while ago, you were greeting the blessed month of Ramadaan. Today you are saying your goodbyes, because it is leaving you with all you have done within it.
Who is to be congratulated?
Congratulations to those who it will testify in their favour before Allaah that they were upon goodness, intercede for them to enter paradise and free them from the hellfire.
Who has lost out?
Woe to those who it will testify against due to their evil behaviour-complaining to its Lord about his negligence and shortcoming.
How to say goodbye to the month of Ramadaan
Say goodbye to the month of fasting and prayer by finishing it in the best way possible, as actions are judged on their final result.
Whoever has done well in this month, then let him continue and whoever has sinned, then it is upon him to repent and do righteous deeds in the remaining days, as maybe he will not see another Ramadaan after this year.
Finish this month with good and continue to perform righteous actions in the rest of the months (of the year), as you have done in this month (of Ramadaan).
Verily the Lord of these months is one, and He sees and is a witness over you. He commanded you to obey Him throughout your whole lives.
Advice to those who only do as they have been commanded during Ramadaan
Whoever worshipped the month of Ramadaan, then it has passed and come to an end; whoever worships Allaah, then Allaah is The All Living and never dies. Therefore, continue to worship him at all times.
Some people only worship (properly) during Ramadaan. So they consistently attend the congregational prayer in the Masjid, they recite much Qur’aan and give charity from their wealth. But when the month of Ramadaan is over they become lazy with acts of obedience. Maybe, they abandon Jumu’ah and the Jamaa’ah, thus destroying what they have built and wiping away what they established. It is as if they believe that exerting themselves in Ramadaan will expiate the filth, destructive sins, and the abandonment of obligations and their committing of forbidden acts.
Will Ramadaan expiate their sins?
They do not know that (in order) for Ramadaan to expiate their sins then it is conditional that the major and destructive sins be avoided.
(Allaah) The Most High said:
“If you avoid the major sins which you have been forbidden, We will expiate from you your minor sins.”1
The Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The five daily prayers, Jumu’ah to Jumu’ah and Ramadaan to Ramadaan will expiate what is between them, as long as the major sins are avoided.”2 Which sin, after shirk, is greater than the failure to perform the prayer?! And the abandonment of the prayer has become a habit that many of the people are accustomed to. These people who only exert themselves in Ramadaan, then it will not benefit them in the slightest with Allaah if they follow (this month) with disobedience, the abandonment of obligations and doing that which is impermissible.
A saying of one of the Salaf about people who only exert themselves in Ramadaan
One of the Salaf was asked about a people who exert themselves (performing worship) in Ramadaan and as soon as the month is over they are negligent (i.e. with what they are commanded) and sinful.
He responded: How evil are these type of people! They only know Allaah during Ramadaan. Yes, because the one who knows Allaah will fear him at all times.
Different types of people that fast during Ramadaan
Some people fast Ramadaan, pray, outwardly portray good and stay away from sins, but this is not out of faith or hope for the reward; instead, he does this out of flattery and to be in conformity with society.
He regards this as community tradition, and this is major hypocrisy, because the hypocrites used to openly perform acts of worship to show off to the people.
Another individual regards Ramadaan as a temporary prison; he can’t wait until it’s over so that he can rush to commit disobedient and forbidden acts. He is delighted that Ramadaan has come to an end, as it will release him from his prison.
Ibn Khuzaimah reported in his Saheeh upon the authority of Abu Hurairah (Radiy Allaahu ‘anhu) that the Messenger of Allaah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi was sallam) said:
The month of yours is approaching. The Messenger of Allaah took an oath- never has a better month for the Muslims arrived and never has a worse month come to pass for the hypocrites than Ramadaan. Allaah will write for the believer his reward and optional deeds before he even enters the month and He will write the sin and misery for (the hypocrite) before he enters it. This is because the believer is preparing his strength and wealth to worship Allaah and the hypocrite is preparing to follow the shortcomings and unmindfulness of the believers. That is why Ramadaan is a great profit obtained by the believer.
The difference between the Believer and Hypocrite at the end of the month
However, the Muslim is delighted that Ramadaan has come to an end because he utilized it to worship and do acts of obedience. So he hopes for the reward and blessings. The hypocrite, on the other hand, is delighted that the month is over so that he is free to commit acts of disobedience and (chase) his lusts, which he was obstructed from in Ramadaan.
That is why the believer should follow on from the month of Ramadaan with seeking forgiveness, Takbeer (Allaahu Akbar) and worship.
The hypocrite follows the month of Ramadaan with disobedience, amusement and musical parties, where they sing and play drums and wind instruments, as he is delighted the month has departed.
And the peace and blessings of Allaah be upon our Prophet, Muhammed.
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