Understanding The Prophet's Life
From Issue: 1002 [Read full issue]
Conscious Effort
Ramadan comes every year. One comes after another, and has been coming for centuries. Quran is the most recited book, its one reading is followed by another and this is an unending endeavour. Every Ramadan, Quran is recited, fasting is observed, prayers are offered and nights are spent in supplications. Yet, we remain where we were before Ramadan. We remain devoid of piety (taqwa) just as we were without Ramadan. Neither our personal matters change, nor do our individual manners improve; neither do our national circumstances and conditions change, nor the clouds of slavery and bondage, insult and subjugation hovering over us move away. Why is it so?
First of all, this is because we cannot achieve without deliberate and conscious effort that great amount of good of Ramadan with which it comes every year. We are either devoid of this conscious effort or simply oblivious of its need and importance.
More than this, our condition is more like the condition of the person about whom the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "when a person does not stop telling lies and following falsehood, Allah is in no way obliged to accept his hunger and thirst." [Bukhari] We declare Allah our Lord, accept Muhammad as our Prophet, believe in Quran as the book of Allah, yet we do not try to understand what they all say to us, nor do we obey what they say. If this is not falsehood and acting upon it, then what is?
Compiled From:
"Making the Most of Ramadhan" - Khurram Murad, p. 28