Remaining Steadfast After Ramadan

By Shaykh Salih Al-Fouzan



Sufyan Ibn `Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "O Messenger of Allah, tell me something about Islam, which I cannot ask anyone else besides you." He said: "Say: 'I believe in Allah' and then be steadfast (upon that)." [Sahih Muslim]
The Hadith is proof that the servant is obligated, after having Iman in Allah, to persevere and be steadfast upon obeying Him by performing the obligatory acts and avoiding the prohibited ones. This is achieved by following the Straight Path, which is the firm Religion without drifting away from it, to the right or to the left.
If the Muslim lives through Ramadan and spent his days in fasting and his nights in prayer and he accustomed himself to doing acts of good, then he must continue to remain upon this obedience to Allah at all times. This is the true state of the slave, for indeed, the Lord of the months is One and He is ever watchful and witnessing over his servants at all times.
Indeed, steadfastness after Ramadan and the rectification of one's statements and actions are the greatest signs that one has gained benefit from the month of Ramadan and striven in obedience. They are tokens of reception and signs of success.
Furthermore, the deeds of a servant do not come to an end with the end of a month and the beginning of another, rather they continue and extend until he reaches death. Allah says: {And worship your Lord until the certainty (death) comes to you}. (Al-Hijr: 99)
If the fasting of Ramadan comes to an end, then indeed the voluntary fasting is still prescribed throughout the entire year. If standing in prayer at night during Ramadan comes to an end, then indeed, the entire year is a time for performing the night prayer. And if the Zakat-ul-Fitr comes to an end, then there is still the Zakah that is obligatory as well as the voluntary charity that lasts the whole year. This goes the same for reciting the Qur'an and pondering over its meaning as well as every other righteous deed that is sought, for they can be done at all times. From the many bounties that Allah has bestowed upon his servants is that He has placed for them many different types of righteous acts and provided many means for doing good deeds. Therefore, the ardor and zeal of the Muslim must be constant and he must continue to remain in the service of his Lord.
It is unfortunate to find that some people perform worship by doing different types of righteous deeds during Ramadan. They guard strictly upon their five daily prayers in the Masjid, they recite the Qur'an a lot and they give in charity from their wealth. But when Ramadan comes to an end, they grow lazy in their worship. Rather, sometimes they even abandon the obligations, both generally, such as praying in congregation, and specifically, such as praying the Fajr prayer.
And they commit forbidden acts such as sleeping over the time of prayers, indulging in places of foolishness and entertainment, and mingling in parks, especially on the day of `Eid. Obtaining help from these evils is only through the grace of Allah. Thus, they demolish what they have constructed and destroy what they have established. This is an indication of deprivation and a sign of perdition. We ask Allah for His safeguarding and protection.
Indeed, this type of people take the example of turning in repentance and ceasing from committing evil deeds as something specific and restricted to the month of Ramadan. And they stop doing these (good) acts when the month stops. Thus, it is as if they have abandoned sinning for the sake of Ramadan, and not out of fear of Allah. How evil are these people who do not know Allah, except in Ramadan!
Truly, the success that Allah grants His servant lies in the fasting of Ramadan. His assisting him to do that is a great favor, thus the calls for the servant to be grateful to his Lord. This understanding can be found in the statement of Allah after completing the favor of the month of fasting:
{(He wants that you) must complete the same number of days, and that you must magnify Allah (by saying Allahu Akbar) for having guided you, so that you may be grateful to Him}. (Al-Baqarah: 185)
The one who is grateful for having fasted, will remain upon that condition and continue to perform righteous deeds.
Verily, the true way of the Muslim is that of one who praises and thanks his Lord for giving him the ability to fast and make Qiyam. His condition after Ramadan is better than it was before Ramadan. He is more receptive to obey, desiring to do good deeds and quick to enforce the obligatory acts. This is because he has gained benefit form this prominent institute of learning. It is that of one who fears for having his fast not accepted, for indeed Allah only accepts from those who fear Him.
The righteous predecessors would struggle to complete and perfect their deeds, hoping afterwards, that it would be accepted and fearing that it would be rejected. From the reports of `Ali, "Be more concerned with having your deeds accepted than the deed itself. Did you not hear Allah say: {Verily Allah, only accepts those from those who fear Him. ( i.e. possess Taqwa)}. [5: 27] "[Lata'if ul Ma`arif, p. 246]
`A'ishah said: "I asked the Messenger of Allah concerning the ayah: 'And the one who are given what they are given and their hearts tremble with fear.' Are they the ones who drink alcohol and steal?" He said: "No, o daughter of As-Siddiq. Rather, they are the ones who fast and pray and give in charity yet fear that it won't be accepted from them. They are the ones who rush to do good deeds and they are the first to do them." [Sahih Sunan At-Tirmidhi 3/79-80]
So be warned and again be warned of turning backward after having attained guidance of going astray after persevering. And ask Allah to provide you with duration in doing righteous deeds and continuity in performing good acts. And ask Allah that He grant you a good end, so that He may accept our Ramadan from us.

Taqabala Minha Wa Minkum

Congratulating one another on the days of ‘Eid
People may exchange congratulations and good greetings on Eid, no matter what form the words take. For example they may say to one another, “Taqabbal Allâhu minnaa wa minkum (May Allâh accept [the fast and worship] from us and from you” or “Eid mubarak” and other similar permissible greetings. [Al-Mughnee: by ibn Qudaamah: vol. 2, p. 259]

Jubayr ibn Nufayr said: “At the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allâh be upon him), when people met one another on the day of Eid, they would say, ‘Taqabbal Allâhu minnaa wa minka (May Allâh accept from us and from you).’” (Ibn Hajar. Its isnaad is hasan. Fathul Baaree: vol.2, p. 446).

The practice of exchanging greetings was well-known at the time of the Sahaabah and scholars such as Imaam Ahmad and others allowed it. There are reports which indicate that it is permissible to congratulate people on special occasions. The Sahaabah used to congratulate one another when something good happened, such as when Allâh accepted a person’s repentance and so on. There is no doubt that congratulating others in this way is one of the noblest kinds of good manners and one of the highest social qualities among Muslims.

At the very least, one can return Eid greetings when they are given to you, and remain silent if nothing is said, as Imaam Ahmad (may Allâh have mercy on him) said: “If someone congratulates me, I return the greeting, but I do not initiate it.”

Whoever misses salaatul ‘Eid with the congregation may pray two rak’at
In Sahih al-Bukhari we find in the chapter entitled: “Whoever missed the ‘Eid prayer should pray two Raka’ah, and similarly the women and those who are at home and in the villages should do so, as is confirmed by the statement of the Prophet (!): “O Muslims, this our ‘Eid”. Anas ibn Maalik at Az-Zaawiyah ordered his slave ibn Abee Ghaneeyah to collect his (Anas’s) family and off-spring. Anas led prayer similar to that offered by townspeople and recited takbeer similar to theirs. ‘Ekrimah said: “The villagers should gather on the day of ‘Eid and offer two raka’ah as the Imaam does.” ‘Ataa said, “Whoever misses the ‘Eid prayer should pray two raka’ah.” [Sahih Al-Buukhari: vol. 2, p. 55, chapter. 25].

Advice after the First 10 Days of Ramadan

This is a quick translation of Sheikh Salah al Fowzan's daily talk before Taraweeh Prayer in his Masjid in Malz, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.



In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of His Mercy. May peace and blessings of Allah be upon His Messenger Muhammad, and upon Muhammed's family and companions.

For that which precedes,

Verily in the slow passing of nights and days are a sign and lesson for those who take heed. This is the reality of life, it begins, and then becomes shorter and shorter until it ends. There is nothing that is everlasting in the dunya (life), rather everything continues toward decrease and conclusion. This is because this life is a passing life. But Allah has made this life and means of planting (obtaining) for the hereafter. This life is a chance for the pious and righteous individuals to gain through their righteous actions. This takes place for the one whom Allah has given success to take advantage of this opportunity. But as for the one who wastes this opportunity and is negligent of it, then verily this life will end and pass while that individual is upon non-righteous actions and sin. He will therefore move to the hereafter while in a state of loss, we seek refuge in Allah from this state. This person will not have righteous deeds in his book. Indeed this is a terrible loss. As for the one who benefits from this life, then he alone will benefit from his hereafter. But the one who wastes this life, he will waste his hereafter. (Sentence that I can't make out)... So be aware of this matter oh Muslim! And take advantage of your time, race toward repentance and righteous deeds before this chance slips through your hands. If you do not do so, you will knock on the door of the hereafter without having any good deeds, and you will bite your hands out of regret and sorrow. Allah says:

{When death comes to one of them, they will say: Oh my Lord return me!

Allah responds to this by saying:

{NO}

Meaning: There is no return.

Allah continues to say:

{Verily this is a statement that he has said}

Meaning: This regretful, destroyed individual must say such a statement, and he must feel sorrow once his time (death) has come.

Allah says (in another verse):

{Oh you who believe, do not allow your children nor wealth to distract you from the remembrance of Allah. Whoever does so, they will be lost}

Even if this person possessed the wealth of this dunya, if he is negligent and distracted from the remembrance of Allah, he will still be lost. This is because salvation is not based on gaining wealth, rather it is based on working for the hereafter and its happiness. This is the true beneficial trading.

Allah says:

{Should I not inform you of a trade that will save you from severe punishment?! Belief in Allah and His Messenger, and fighting in the way of Allah with your wealth and bodies. Indeed this is better for you if only you knew. Allah will forgive you for your sins and enter you into paradise underneath which rivers flow, and grant you comfortable homes in this everlasting paradise. Indeed this is great success}

Therefore, this is the beneficial trade. But as for gathering wealth in large amounts, if this is not done in obedience to Allah and seeking His pleasure, and if one does not use this wealth to perform righteous actions, and he does not spend it in the way of Allah, then this wealth will become a means of loss for its owners.

Allah says:

{Spend from that which We have granted you before death approaches, and then a person will say: Oh my Lord delay my death until a later time in order that I may give charity and be from the righteous! Allah will not delay a soul when its time (death) has approached. Verily Allah is all aware of what you do}

The Messenger (sallAllahu alayhi wa salem) mentioned that everyone will regret once death approaches. If a person was righteous, he/she will regret that they did not increase upon their good deeds. Once a person sees the great, wonderful reward for these actions, they will regret not having increased in good deeds. And if one is negligent and wasted his life, he will regret what he has wasted and neglected in this life.

Verily death and the end is close!

You began The Month of Ramadan, and now the first 10 days have passed. Now you are at the doors of the 10 middle days, and whomever Allah gives life to will reach the last 10 days, and then the month will end. The question is: What will these days end upon, and what will the hours pass upon? A Muslim should think and reflect. The businessmen and those who possess large amounts of wealth constantly review and monitor their wealth. They monitor whether they profited and not, and if they realize that they did not profit in a business deal, they will abstain from the sort of dealing and focus on another (seeking profit). Therefore, those that work and trade for the hereafter should more so do such monitoring. They should always monitor their actions and see where they have gained or not. They should increase in righteous deeds and repent from evil deeds. Allah says:

{Oh you who believe, fear Allah, and let every soul look toward that which it has put fourth for tomorrow. And fear Allah, verily Allah is all aware of what you do. DO NOT BE like those who have forgotten Allah and as a result, Allah made them forget themselves}

When these individuals forgot Allah and forgot that which Allah has made obligatory upon them, Allah made them forget themselves. How can a person forget himself?! This is amazing. Does a person own anything more precious and valuable then himself? But if a person forgets himself, Allah will make this person forget himself, and he will not seek good for himself, nor will he safeguard himself from evil. This is the major loss. Verily the lost individual is the one who has lost himself and his family on The Day of Judgment. Verily this is the major loss.

Therefore, it is upon us all to think and reflect. All of us are sinners and wrong doers, but upon us is to increase in repentance and seeking forgiveness. And doing so is not merely with the tongue; rather it (repentance) should be done with the tongue, heart and with our actions. We should correct our actions. Verily repentance only with the tongue has no value. Due to this, some of the Salaf used to say: "Verily our repentance is in need of repentance"
Why? Because this was only done with the tongue, and indeed this is evil. Repenting only on one's tongue is evil and dangerous. Therefore, if one does such an act, he needs to repent once more.

Upon a Muslim is to sincerely repent to Allah with one's heart. One should struggle with himself, monitor his actions, and look at them. That which is good, he should praise Allah for allowing him to do such good deeds, and he should increase in doing them. But that which is evil, the performer of those deeds should repent to Allah and seek His forgiveness; he should also stop those action and distance himself from them. As long as one is still alive, then he has the ability to do so, and he has the ability to repent and act, but once death approaches, then everything stops, as The Messenger (sallAllahu alayhi wa salem) said:

"If the child of Adam (mankind) dies, all of his actions stop except three..."

And once his time (death) has come, and the Angel of death rears, then repentance will not be accepted. The Messenger (sallAllahu alayhi wa salem) said:

"Allah accepts repentance as long as death has not approached"

Meaning: As long as the soul has not reached the throat. Once this takes place and nothing remains except the Angels pulling the soul from the body, at this moment Allah will no longer accept repentance. If it was accepted at this moment, then everyone would repent, even this disbeliever would repent at this moment, and the sinner also, but it is no longer accepted. Repentence has its specified time, which is before the approaching of death. And at this time a person still can think and reflect and knows that he/she has neglected his life, but he can no longer repent, and even if he were to repent with his tongue at that time, it would not be accepted from him. (In the ayat mentioned at the beginning of this talk) They will say:

{Oh our Lord, return us in order that we may do righteous actions!}

But this request will not be fulfilled.

Therefore, it is upon a Muslim to be aware of this matter, and reflect over the quick passing of days and nights. We have witnessed the passing of the first 10 days of Ramadan, at this point we should judge ourselves. What have we put forward in these 10 days?! And what have we left from that which we should have put forward?! We should judge ourselves and focus on the middle 10 days and the last 10 before those pass us as well and we waste this great month. Upon us is to judge and monitor ourselves. We should think about our direction, we should look at our faults. If you were to in fact count your evil deeds, you would not be able to count them all. There is no change nor might except with Allah. And if you were to count your good deeds, you would find that they are low in number and weak. Therefore, upon you is to repent to Allah. You need to repent! You need to seek forgiveness! You need to correct your actions! You need this life, it should not pass without benefit! This is your main source of wealth, your main wealth is not money because that will pass and end, rather your main source of wealth is your life and time in this life. This is your correct wealth, so preserve it and be diligent in increasing it and profiting. Verily this is the means of happiness or sadness on The Day of Judgment.

"A person's feet will not be moved on The Day of Judgment until he/she is asked about 4: His life, what did he do with it..."

Allah says:

{Did we not give them a life, where in it, the could have reflected, and reminders (Prophets and Messengers) came to them. Then taste the punishment, and the wrong doers will not have a helper}

Allah said in that verse: Did we not give you a life span? Allah gave you this life not for you to play, eat and enjoy like the animals. Rather, He gave you this life to work in it and with it. He gave it to you in order for you to work for your next life, and if you don't do so, it will be a means of torment against you on The Day of Judgment.

The Prophet continued to say in the aforementioned hadeeth:

"...and about his youth, what did you spend it doing, and about his wealth, where did he obtain it, and what did he spend it on, and about his knowledge, what did he do with it"

You will be asked about these 4 things on The Day of Judgment, so what will your answer be?!
In this life you were informed about these questions, so it is upon you to work for the answers and prepare them before you are asked. Children in school are taught the curriculums and they are informed that they will be questioned about what they learned, and as a result, the students study the materials word for word, they turn the pages and make certain they know the answers, and they prepare for the test, and this is in this life. But as for the next life and its test, rarely do you find a person preparing and focusing on it, except for those whom Allah has given success.

We ask Allah to make us and you from those who act for their hereafter and from those who make their religion sincerely for Him, and those who repent from their sins, and those who race toward good deeds before the ending of their lives and before the ending of their hours.

May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and companions.


Translated by Mustafa George