The month of blessing Ramadan is here, among us. It is the third day of Ramadan in Turkey, second day in Middle east, Europe and Americas & it is the first day of Ramadan here, in the Indian sub-continent. But, most importantly it is now Ramadan throughout the world notwithstanding the one or two day difference. And it is a blessing from Allah that we are witnessing yet another Ramadan in our life!
It is a blessed month and we can see that people who are otherwise not so keen about attending the local mosque for the 5 daily prayers step out towards the mosque even before the regular mosque goers do. And it is a fact which i witness in my own neighbourhood, MashaaAllah! There is an overall feeling of piety, righteousness and sobriety. It feels as if we can say Imaan is in the air!
But, one thing, i have seen some people indulging in is the belittling of the efforts of those Muslims who could not participate in the acts of worship in the previous 11 months but are more than keen to do them in this blessed month. So much so that these people call the less-practising ones as 'Ramadan Muslims'. I am talking about the efforts of those Muslims who observe Hijab in this month, attend the mosque regularly, may grow a stubble on their faces, may even don a skull-cap or do whatever they deem to be 'Islamic' in this month. This very title 'Ramadan Muslims', i feel, is pretty derogatory and can have a negative effect on those who try to act upon Islam to the fullest in this month. This may even lead them to forsake the Ibaadah in this month as well.
It is very much possible that Allah accepts these very acts of worship from the 'Ramadan Muslims' and gets pleased with them and accepts them completely bringing about a complete change in their lives. And it is very much possible that the acts of those people who are steadfast throughout the year may not have their deeds even accepted by Allah owing to their cynicism and looking down upon others. It is important to see here that there are two things which contribute towards the evil deeds of a person - Satan and the Nafs (the inner self). And since Satan is not able to intervene in this month, it is clearly evident that these very 'Ramadan Muslims' are more in control of their Nafs than those who criticize them, despise them or look down upon them with cynicism. This is because the qualities of undue criticism, despising and looking down upon others are acts which smack of a grave spiritual illness!
My whole point of writing these lines is that even if you are the one who attends the mosque regularly everyday at the accorded times, even if you keep the beard, wear the skull-cap, even if you do the Hijab throughout the year, do not look down upon those who try to do the same in this month having let go of these acts in the past year. This because, as they say, "well begun is half done"! What better beginning for righteousness, piety and sobriety than in Ramadan itself!
Wish you a Ramadan full of blessings!
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