*💭 What is our responsibility after fasting for the entire month of Ramadan?

*1️⃣ Ihtisaab - Self Reflection (Accountability):

What was the purpose of fasting (in Ramadan)?
Seeking Taqwa (piety/ righteousness)

*🍃
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ*
O those who believe, the fasts have been enjoined upon you as were enjoined upon those before you so that you be God-fearing.
[Al-Baqarah 2: 183]

We have spent this blessed month of Ramadan putting in our utmost efforts in our prayers, fasts, spending in the way of Allah, and doing good. We should now contemplate whether we were successful in attaining Taqwa or not.

*🔸 Why is this self reflection important?
It is very important because:

*🍃Word of Allah:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَلْتَنظُرْ نَفْسٌ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ*
O you who have believed, fear Allah. And let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow - and fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Aware of what you do.
[Al-Hashr 59:18]

📚Prophet of Allah ﷺ said:
الْكَيِّسُ مَنْ دَانَ نَفْسَهُ
“The wise man is the one who takes account of himself and strives for that which is after death. And the helpless man is the one who follows his own whims, then indulges in wishful thinking about Allah.”
[Ibn Majah 4260]


🔸Attributes of Muttaqeen (pious):
The Qur’an has mentioned the following attributes of Muttaqeen. We should carefully analyse if these qualities have been attained during this Ramadan. If yes, then keep on making dua to make you steadfast on the path of righteousness.


*🍃
وَسَارِعُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ. الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِي
السَّرَّاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَالْكَاظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
And race one another towards Forgiveness from your Lord and towards a paradise the width of which spans the heavens and the earth. It has been prepared for the God-fearing. (133)
Who spend [in the cause of Allah] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people - and Allah loves the doers of good;(134)
[Ali’ Imran 3: 133-134]

1️⃣ الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِي السَّرَّاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ
Spending in the way of Allah, in the form of Sadaqah and Khairat, in the times of prosperity and adversity is the greatest attribute of Muttaqeen. It is because Muttaqeen fear Allah’s wrath and anger at all times. And the greatest quality that can save a person from Allah’s wrath is Sadaqah and Khairat (spending in the name of Allah).

📚 Prophet of Allah ﷺ said:
اتَّقُوا النَّارَ وَلَوْ بِشِقِّ تَمْرَةٍ
“Protect yourself from the Fire."
He then turned his face aside (as if he were looking at it) and said again,
"Protect yourself from the Fire," and then turned his face aside (as if he were looking at it), and he said so for the third time till we thought he was looking at it.
He then said, "Protect yourselves from the Fire, even if with one half of a date and he who hasn't got even this, (should do so) by (saying) a good, pleasant word.
[Sahih Bukhari 6540]

So, if a person spends in the way of Allah in times of ease as well as in difficulty, fearing Hell fire, then he has attained Taqwa.

2️⃣وَالْكَاظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ
If a person suppresses his anger even when he is cursed, slandered or abused by others, despite having the ability to take revenge, fearing Allah’s displeasure, then he has attained Taqwa.

Hadith:
A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and he said, “Advise me.” The Prophet ﷺ said, “Do not be angry.” The man repeated his request and the Prophet ﷺ said, “Do not be angry.”
[Ṣaḥiḥ Bukhari: 6116]
3️⃣وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِ
Forgiving others despite having the ability to take revenge.
This means that the more Taqwa you have, the more it makes you forgive people. The lesser Taqwa you have, the lesser it encourages you to forgive people.

*👈🏻Please understand this:
Forgiving others means forgiving them in this world as well on the Day of Judgement. Saying, “I have forgiven you for now but you have to be answerable before Allah”, does not count as forgiving others. You need to say, “I have forgiven you. May Allah forgive you, too.”

Prophet of Allah ﷺ had the highest level of Taqwa. That is why according to Ayesha (May Allah be pleased with her) said, he never took revenge for himself.

4️⃣وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
They are the ones who do good (Ihsaan) to others and benefit others through their power, strength, knowledge, skill, wealth and wisdom.

✅Reflect on yourself and if you find any shortcoming, repent and regret over it and try to overcome it. If you find yourself successful in attaining Taqwa, then make dua and ask Allah to make you steadfast on Taqwa.

Aameen

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