by Asma bint Shameem
Ramadhaan is over.
Alhamdulillaah you worked hard this Ramadhaan.
You fasted, you prayed, you read the Qur’aan, and you gave Sadaqah.
But was it all accepted by Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala?
The ulama say that only Allaah knows for SURE if any deed is accepted or not. BUT there ARE definite certain SIGNS that point to whether our good deeds were accepted by Allaah or not.
So what are those signs?
Was our ibaadah, our duaa, our fasting and praying accepted by Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala?
🍃 The scholars said:
“Among the signs of acceptance (of good deeds) is that Allaah causes one hasanah (good deed) to be followed by ANOTHER, for the hasanah says, “My sister, my sister!”
And the sayi’ah (evil deed) also says, “My sister, my sister!” –we seek refuge with Allaah.
If Allaah has accepted a person's Ramadhaan, and he has benefitted from this period of (spiritual) training and has remained steadfast in obeying Allaah, then he has joined the caravan of those who have remained steadfast and responded to Allaah.
Allaah says:
“Verily, those who say: ‘Our Lord is Allaah (Alone),’ and then they stand firm, on them the angels will descend (at the time of their death) (saying): ‘Fear not, nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised!
We have been your friends in the life of this world and are (so) in the Hereafter. Therein you shall have (all) that your inner selves desire, and therein you shall have (all) for which you ask”[Fussilat 41:30-31]”
(Mujallah ad-Da’wah 1774, page 12)
In other words, if we IMPROVE ourselves after the month of fasting, and develop a BETTER relationship with our Rabb, then that’s a sign that Allaah has accepted our ibaadah and our hard work didn’t go in vain.
You see, just as the purpose of establishing Salaah, is to remember Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala, [“…And establish Salaah to remember Me” (Ta Ha:14)], similarly the purpose of fasting is to establish and develop Taqwa (God-consciousness) in ourselves.
🍃 Allaah says:
“O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become al-Muttaqoon (the pious God-conscious)” (al-Baqarah, 2:183)
So if your attitude, your conduct and manners, your lifestyle, and your relationship with your Rabb and His creation have CHANGED for the BETTER and show a POSITIVE transformation after Ramadhaan then that’s a sign that Allaah accepted your Ramadhaan.
Just like we can tell that medicine is working when a sick person feels better, similarly, your fasting for a whole month should manifest itself as
a POSITIVE change in you...
a beautiful and gentle transformation of your character, your manners....
a keen consciousness of the pleasure of your Rabb...
the ultimate desire to OBEY Him, and SUBMIT to His Commands
And that’s PROOF that your fasting for a month has produced the desired result....which is TAQWA of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala.
🍃 Ibn al-Qayyim said:
“If the heart illuminates, then the delegations of goodness will flock in his direction from every direction. Similarly, when a heart darkens, then the storms of evil will gust towards him from every direction…”
(Al-Jawāb al-Kaafi)
🍃 And Al-Hafidh Ibn Rajab said:
“Being acoustomed to fasting after Ramadhaan is a sign that the fasting of Ramadhaan was accepted.
Since if Allaah accepts the deeds of a worshipper, then Allaah gives him the capability to perform good deeds after that initial good deed.”
[Lataif al-Ma’arif 221]
So if you’ve come closer to Allaah....
If you've become punctual about your five daily prayers...
if you’ve started wearing Hijaab...
if you’ve given up your bad deed, or your bad company....
If you’ve made taubah and not returned to the sin…
if you’ve improved your manners...
if you’re controlling your tongue and your anger....
if you’re reading the Qur’aan regularly....
if you’re continuing your Qiyaam....
then these are all signs that your Ramadhaan is accepted.
So KEEP UP all the good work.
PUSH yourself to continue.
DON’T let the Shaytaan take you away from the remembrance of your Rabb.
And make Duaa that He keeps you STEADFAST and ACCEPTS.
Remember that “the most beloved of deeds to Allaah are those which are continuous, even if they are little.”
(Saheeh Muslim)
🍃 Ali Radhi Allaahu anhu used to say:
“Be more concerned with Allaah’s acceptance of a good deed than with the doing of the good deed itself.
Have you not heard Allaah saying: “Allaah only accepts from the people of taqwa? (Al-Ma’idah: 27)” (Ibn Abī al-Dunya, Al-Ikhlaas)
🍃 And Shaikh Saleh al-Fawzaan said:
“Indeed, steadfastness after Ramadhaan and the rectification of one’s statements and actions are the greatest signs that one has gained benefit from the month of Ramadhaan 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. Allaah says: “And worship your Lord until the certainty (death) comes to you”. (Al-Hijr: 99)”
May Allaah accept from all of us and forgive us. Ameen.
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