Have we really achieved Taqwa?
By: Iftikhar Islam
The purpose of fasting in the month of Ramadhan is to achieve taqwa. Allah says in the Glorious Quran, “O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous (taqwa)” (2:186)
We fast the entire month of Ramadhan but we fail to realise and achieve the real purpose of it. Fasting without good characters is merely staying hungry. We need to analyse ourselves that are we achieving the real purpose of fasting or we are merely staying hungry. When we fast with all the etiquette of fasting then we will surely achieve the real purpose of it, In’sha’Allah.
If we go back to our normal routine soon after seeing the crescent of Shawwal then know that we have merely stayed hungry for the entire month. The real purpose of fasting is lost. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Verily, Gabriel came to me and he said: Whoever reaches the month of Ramadhan and he is not forgiven, then he will enter Hellfire and Allah will cast him far away, so say ameen. I said ameen. (Saheeh Ibn Hibban 915). Imagine the leader of the angels is cursing a person and a leader of the messengers is saying Aameen to it. Do we have a slightest of doubt about the destruction of this person? No, we don’t. So let us not fall among those who got Ramadhan and didn’t take heed of it.
My dear brothers and sisters, if we go to the movies right after the Ramadhan, then what have we really achieved by fasting the entire month of Ramadhan? There are many who celebrate Eid by visiting movie theatres. We mingle with non-mahrams in the name of celebration. Is it what we have achieved in the month Ramadhan?
We go back to the same sins we commit day to day. Our attitude becomes the same. We become the same person as we were before. Then, what was the purpose of Ramadhan and fasting that was imposed upon us? Ramadhan is a favour upon us from Allah and He will surely ask us, on the Day of Judgment, about each and every favour He has bestowed upon us. Fear Allah and let’s turn to Him in repentance.
Allah is the Most Merciful. He has blessed us with Ramadhan to achieve taqwa. Let us strive for it. Let this Ramadhan be a reason to become a good Muslim. Let us humble ourselves and be a righteous slave of Allah. Remember! Our value before Allah is only of a slave. He is our Master. We don’t have any other option but to be a slave of Allah. Let’s become a righteous slave.
We don’t know whether we get the coming Ramadhan. Death is sure, but it’s time is uncertain. Let’s go back to our Lord in repentance and lead our remaining life as a righteous slave of Allah.
O Allah, you love forgiveness, forgive us and help us to achieve taqwa. Aameen
About the Author:
Iftikhar Islam is the Admisnistrator-Founder of GPRF Network. A Public Speaker and a Da'ee well known for his articles on Islam and Social issues. He is an ardent of Islam, Comparative Religions, Education, Entrepreneurship, Media, and Law. | Know more|
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