Ramadan, a Gate for Success

Allah (swt) prescribed upon us fasting because He (swt) desires only ease for us. In surat Al-Baqrah (2-185): ”Allah desires ease for you. He desires no hardships for you. Do complete the fasting of the prescribed days, so that you should magnify Allah for having guided you, and so that you may be thankful.”

Allah (swt) only wants to help us through fasting, and  make it easy for us to reform ourselves in order to attain true success, since due to our human weakness we can very easily be influenced by what is going on around us and can easily be caught up in wrong practices.

Human being is created with the ability to learn good things just like learning bad things.  In fact, our character is the product of what we learn and what we practice. We cannot attain success and improve ourselves unless we learn how to control our life and practice only goods things.  That is why it is said that man is a creature of habit, of what he practices.

Allah (swt), out of His mercy, guided us to the guaranteed way for  success in developing our character and our strength so that we will be able to resist and  refuse  those things which may  take us away from the light of the truth to the darkness of falsehood.

The way for  success

This guaranteed way for  success is the complete submission to Allah (swt) and continues practices and training  till good deeds become our nature so that we find no difficulties in doing them.

The importance of Fasting

Fasting  is one of the tools Allah (swt) gave us to achieve this success. Fasting Ramadan is an unmatched practical program which Allah (swt) prescribed upon us to enable us to gain control over our life, to discipline ourselves, train ourselves in good deeds to the point that good deeds become our nature.

Fasting generates a spiritual state that leads to constant remembrance of Allah (swt),   which in turn guides us to think and act correctly,  and this produces proper conduct and guidance for more goodness in this life and in the Hereafter.

The spiritual gains of fasting are endless and cannot be easily achieved by any other way but fasting.  That is why Allah (swt) said in Quran: “Fasting is good for you if you only know”.

During fasting we develop a high level of spiritual strength, patience, endurance, and tolerance that enable us to meet other challenges of life with  more determination and steadfastness.

Growing in  righteousness

The greatest benefit we achieve from fasting is to grow in piety  (Taqwa). Quran, emphasized that the main wisdom behind fasting the month of  Ramadan is to grow in Taqwa.  In Surat Al-Baqrah (2): ”O you who believe!  Fasting (in the month of Ramadan) is prescribed upon you as it was prescribed upon those before you, so that you may attain Taqwah (piety and righteousness)”.   

Taqwah is the source of all virtues and success.  Taqwah is achieved through striving hard to please Allah and accomplish as many good deeds in this life as you can. Taqwa leads to nothing but success both in this life and in the Hereafter.

What  Taqwa means

Taqwa means to build a shelter between yourself and wrong practices, a shelter between yourself and your own evils, a shelter between yourself and your weakness. This shelter of Taqwa would act as a protection for you from all sorts of evils in this life and against the punishment of  Allah (swt) in the Hereafter.

Developing our full Capacity in Worshipping Allah

The most important lesson we learn from fasting Ramadan is to develop our full capacity in worshipping Allah (swt). We learn from Ramadan that it is not that hard to obey Allah (swt). It is not that hard to refrain from disobeying Allah (swt). It is not that hard to fast, offer night prayers, give charity, help others, watch our tongues, control our  desires, or overcome destructive thoughts, ideas, and actions which might make our fast useless.

Do your best to continue with the religious practices you earned in Ramadan all the year round. However, set reasonable  practical goals for yourself so that you will be able to continue and will not stop after some time. The prophet (pbuh) said: ”The best of good deeds in the sight Allah (swt) is that which lasts even if  it is little.”

Skills of  Self-Control

Fasting is a training program to acquire the skills of  self-control. In Ramadan we are not only training ourselves to endure hunger and thirst, and control our desires, but rather we are learning how to control and  improve all aspects of our lives. 

This self-control and discipline exercised in Ramadan provide an excellent beginning for every one of us to reform his/her life.

The one who is able to control himself during Ramadan is going to be able, with Allah Almighty’s support, to take control of himself for the other eleven months. Success is always with those people who are able to control themselves.

Take control of your life. Do not follow the example of the unguided people who deviated to the point that they became mastered by their desires, may be to the point that they lost control over their life, to the point that their desires destroyed them physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Developing the power to challenge within ourselves

Another invaluable lesson we learn from fasting Ramadan is developing the power to challenge within ourselves. Fasting Ramadan is an experience that breaks the normal routine of life. This is a training in adapting to various conditions and circumstances in one’s life.

Ramadan makes us discover our full potential to change our life, to get rid of our bad habits, and adopt to better habits easily.

One can always say to him/her self  with confidence that if I can fast and stand the pains of thirst and hunger,  I can do anything else. If I can change during Ramadan and adapt to new routine so easily why I cannot do it in any other time of the year. Our bad habits can no longer beat us. Ramadan should give us the power to fight them.

After fasting Ramadan, every one can say to him/her self proudly that: “I shall no longer underestimate my potential and my spiritual power.  No more   “I cannot”   phrases will be in my life; Ramadan turns them into  “I can”  phrases.” 

The True Success

Thus Fasting Ramadan is the key for the true success.  However, the true success is not measured by pleasures of the life of this world, by its wealth and power.  The true success is to be a winner in the eternal-life of the Hereafter. Allah (swt) said in Surat Al-Imran (4:185): “He who will be saved from the Fire (displaced a little far from it) and be admitted to Paradise will indeed attain true success. Verily the life of this world is nothing but goods and chattels of deception.”

In order to attain true success take control of your life and make all your life and death for the sake of Allah as  Prophet Abraham (pbuh) was commanded to supplicate: “Say: Truly, my prayers, my services of  sacrifice, my life, and my death are all for Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. There is no partners with him. This am I commanded, and I am the first of  those who submit to His will (Moslems)” (Quran)

Let us pray to Allah (swt) to shower Moslems all over the world, men and women, the living and dead, with His  Endless Mercy, Blessings, and Forgiveness not only in Ramadan but all year round.