Life After Ramzan
The month is long over, but effect must stay
CHARACTER BY DR. FAIZ FAZILI
“Does Ramazan end with Eid ul-Fitr”; Unarguably you would get a loud "yes" answer from every believer you ask as to whether Ramazan ends with 'Eid ul-Fitr, as the time bound restrictions and limitations set on food, relations etc ordained during the Holy month of Ramazan come to an end with the sighting of Eid Crescent. The life after Ramazan--is now time for us to do some introspection and re-evaluate our Iman. Let's question ourselves, what have we gained from Ramazan in a process to improve ourselves.Yes, there are blessed ones who gain from the opportunity of the atmosphere and blessings of holy month of Ramazan in order to reform themselves towards a righteous way of this earthly life here and life- after by getting rid of bad habits, bad company, drug and substance abusage and drinking alcohol. It’s more than something that you got relieved you had become addicted to. It becomes whole reason for renewed living for those who were physically dependent on a drug or drinks. You had become so sick that you just didn’t care about losing your close friends and family over it, the Holy month provided you an opportunity to abstain from all these corrupt practices. During Holy month we realized our faults and felt guilty. We made duas sought help and forgiveness from Allah. Many of us tried our best to stop sins of tongue like cursing, slandering stopped lying, backbiting during the month of Ramazan, but now what. We tried our best to close our ears to that which was not permissible to hear. We tried our best to lower our gazes at sights which we are not allowed to see.Now, after Ramazan is over, do those things become permissible to us? Sadly it is not too uncommon to find some brothers and sisters who after Ramazan month find it too incumbent to remain on the path of righteousness immediately after Ramazan. They fail to strive to sustain the religious duties and worthwhile habits of truthful, honest, dutiful and tolerant character we imbibed during the blessed month of Ramazan . In an endeavour to build our character, the end of Holy month is not and should not mark the end of a virtuous life for a true believer.
The Holy month is expected to inspire believers to sustain all the noble acts of devotion (ibadah) they undertook in the holy month.Certainly, the acceptance and rejection of deeds in this month have signs. Among the signs of acceptance of good deed is when it is followed up by continuation of good deeds and it is among the signs of rejection to follow up one’s good deeds with evil ones. The life style of a true believer during Ramazan should not be different from that which he/she lives after the holy month. Now that Holy month is over, the state of transformation have to be continued and manifested in our actions, habits, character and manners in accordance with the law of Allah. If you are from those who benefited from Ramazan , your good deeds endeavor to be righteous must not cease with times and places, So be warned and again be warned of turning backward after having attained guidance of going astray after persevering. May Allah get us on the right path. Aameen.
