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The
rapid shift from obeying Allah Almighty in Ramadan to disobeying Him
and moving away from His way after Ramadan has its reasons, the most
important of which are the following:
-
Absence
or lack of sincerity during the acts of worship that used to be
performed: This insincerity is exemplified in the person who
performs prayer or pays charity so that people will see him. In
doing so he may achieve a certain rank, some material benefit from
them, or the like. Such a person does not perform acts of worship
with the intention of pleasing Allah Almighty, and achieving a
great reward in the Hereafter.
-
Absence
of concentration during the performance of the acts of worship
despite the presence of sincerity: This leads to the person
not benefiting from performing such acts, not filling the heart
with faith and not drawing his heart closer to his Lord, a thing
which would have prompted him to persist in doing good and
abandoning evil.
-
Lack
of moderation in acts of worship, being over enthusiastic and
exerting much effort than that which each person can bear:
This makes the soul change afterwards because it does not possess
the quality of persistence. This happens although the Messenger
(peace and blessings be upon him) ordered us to do those deeds
which are within our capabilities.
-
Weakness
of the soul and its yielding to the insinuations of the devil:
This occurs because of the absence of good company, or the
companionship of bad people who one is unable to affect, so one is
affected by it instead. Another reason is abandoning acts of
worship suddenly, therefore, one's soul becomes empty and likely
to be filled with devilish insinuations and love of committing
acts of disobedience.
-
The
soul’s need for recreation after periods of patience in Ramadan:
This makes it seek the utmost enjoyment, as compensation for
what it has missed. So it indulges in pleasure until it surpasses
the wide range of the lawful and enters into the unlawful.
In
order to cure this shift, which may afflict some people in different
degrees that vary from one person to another in degree and form, one
has to apply the following means, the most of which are in fact the
opposite of the above reasons:
-
Gradual
training to be sincere when performing every act: Each act
should only be performed with the intention to please Allah
Almighty, to gain His reward, and to benefit from it by enjoying
happiness in this world and reward in the Hereafter. This can be
achieved through hiding the act as much as possible, not
mentioning it afterwards, and bearing good intentions while doing
it. Then one is to ask Allah for His help and support and
supplicate to Him to help you resist devilish insinuations of
ostentation while performing the act. After that, one should ask
for Allah’s forgiveness for any ostentation that may have been
felt during or after the act and the person should have the firm
will to not repeat feelings of ostentation in following acts.
-
Gradual
training on concentration during the different acts of worship
through not performing too many acts and being moderate: What
is important, for example, is not reading too many chapters of the
Qur’an but rather it is enough to read some verses with
contemplation followed by practicing what is understood.
Furthermore, repeating one or two of the supplications of
remembering Allah with due contemplation that moves the heart, is
much better than repeating many supplications without gaining any
benefit, and so on.
-
Looking
for good company like that which was available in Ramadan,
merging with it, and clinging to it, for it serves as a shield
against devilish insinuations. The Messenger (peace and blessings
be upon him) says, “Indeed, the wolf eats of sheep only the
faraway one.” (Reported by Abu Dawud with a good chain of
transmission). Keeping good company supports you to continue in
obedience; it was reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings
be upon him) said, “A person follows the religion of his
friend; so each one of you should consider whom he makes his
friend.”
-
Avoidance
of sudden slackness after Ramadan or abandoning the acts of
obedience: One should continue to perform acts of worship
after Ramadan even in a lesser form. Perhaps this is one of the
wisdoms inferred from the hadith in which the Messenger (peace and
blessings be upon him) says, “He who observed the fast of
Ramadan and then followed it with six (fasts) of Shawwal; it would
be as if he fasted perpetually.” (Muslim) Maybe
observing fast for some days in Shawwal, and by analogy,
performing some rak`ahs of optional night prayer, some prayers in
the Mosque, reciting some verses of the Qur’an, paying some
charity, and doing other acts of obedience that used to be
observed during the honorable month would prevent sudden emptiness
in the soul. This is intended to remind the soul of the sweetness
and good effects of worship and to keep the inner joy that was
attained during Ramadan. This makes one try not to lose such
pleasure, so that at least one would persevere in doing the
minimum level that achieves this pleasure.
-
Preparation
of lawful recreation: The soul leaves Ramadan while it needs
some rest and recreation. This can be attained through trips,
journeys, contests, games, visits, and other permissible worldly
pleasures. If the soul does not find this recreation by
permissible means, it might get depressed and weakened,
discontinue obedience, or even look for enjoyment in prohibited
matters!
-
Supplication
to Allah for whoever has changed after Ramadan: People should
supplicate such a person, as their supplication will eventually be
answered. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) says,
“Whenever a Muslim servant supplicates for his brother in his
absence, the Angel says: Amen, and the same be for you too.” (Muslim)
This person should supplicate for himself as well.
Finally,
it has to be taken into consideration that curing and educating souls
need gradual advancement, patience and a long time, just as the
Qur’an and the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did with
the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), for souls are not
like paintings that can be drawn or painted in a day or two.
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