﷽

Ramadan is the best time of the year and, alhamdulilah, it did not disappoint once again.

My reflections for this month are broken up into three parts:

1. Du’a

Du’a is the call of the believer to the Most High. It is how we communicate with our Creator; no one knows us better. My du’as have developed over the years. In the beginning, it was only when I wanted something; now it’s how I start my day, alhamdulilah. I wake up and thank Allah for life.

الحمد لله الذي أحيانا بعدما أماتنا وإليه النشور

All praise is for Allah who gave us life after causing us to die – and to Him is the return.

I love asking Allah for my wants, needs, and simply anything that comes to mind, because He is All-Capable. As my beloved Sheikh Muhammad Alshareef رَحِمَهُ ٱللَّٰهُ taught us, when we ask Allah we are asking from His resources, not our own, and His are limitless, infinite, الله أكبر.

The mind likes to ask “how”, so I ask, “O Allah, show me how.”

My greatest du’as have been those that have affected my heart, my peace, and my guidance.

2. Istighfar

From my du’as came the need to make istighfar. As I made du’a for guidance, my heart began to turn toward seeking forgiveness. The greatest gift would be the pleasure of الرَّحْمَٰن.

3. Seeking Islamic Knowledge

During Ramadan, I watched a video on the country of Uzbekistan, home to the legendary Imam al-Bukhari and Imam al-Tirmidhi, may Allah be pleased with them. The land of such great scholars, yet in the 20th century the Soviet Union conquered Uzbekistan and forbade the practice of Islam. People had to pray and learn about the religion in secrecy.

This got me thinking. Why am I not striving to study Islam? Why do I give it my least effort and hope it comes naturally? Why do I give away what people fought and died for? This must change now.

There is a famous hadith where Prophet Muhammad ﷺ says:

مَنْ مَاتَ وَهُوَ يَعْلَمُ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ

Whoever dies while knowing that there is no god but Allah will enter Paradise.

To know Allah we must learn about Him and study His message.

Allahu Mustaan.

Peace and blessings upon the Nabi of Allah.