Ramadaniyoon

I can't believe its been a year already. I remember writing about Ramadan not so long ago and here I am again, trying to rekindle the fasting spirit. What is life but a series of events? Each event seems like a long episode, more significant than all the previous occurrences in our life but after some time, it too becomes a mirage in the oasis of our memories. 

Each Ramadan I make resolutions to strength my emaan. I fast in repentance, to seek forgiveness and for deliverance from punishment. Yes, fasting is much more than not consuming food and drink for certain hours during the day. It is a meditation and sacrifice of sorts. Its toning, humbling and awakening the soul. 

Any act often repeated soon becomes a habit. Some people habitually clean, play video games, eat, facebook, bike, sleep. Its like they cannot realize any other purpose in life except what they already are accustomed to doing. To be honest, my mom likes to cook. If she can spare a single breathing moment away from students, she will stand in the kitchen and cook - even when no one is hungry. She will be so tired from standing and teaching that her ankles will swell and crack but she will continue to servant the stove. I don't know this but I can guarantee you that my mom even dreams about recipes when asleep. My father on the other hand loves to sleep. Period. He will sleep even if there are people around. He fell asleep during my wedding. My husband also has his share of interests that occupy his time. Granted, we all suffer from very carnal routines. So I think of Ramadan as an event to cap our base passions and desires that dictate the pattern of our existence. Fasting from food is not the entire reason for Ramadan, Fasting is for Allah.
Every year, right before Ramadan, I feel a distance between myself and my Rabb. I really don't know how it works but exactly when I begin to feel an emptiness and sadness in my heart because of neglecting my commitments to Allah; socializing too much; not spending enough time with Him and not spending enough time doing things for Him - subhanAllah, its Ramadan.

We defile ourselves with our obsecene and wasteful habits. Fasting is not a ritual, a diet program or a punishment. In truth, fasting is for getting closer to Allah via sacrifice of material things. The motive of fasting is to take our eyes off the things of this world and to focus them completely on Allah; the reward of the Hereafter. Fasting is a way to demonstrate to Allah, and to ourselves that we are serious about our servitude to Him. Again, many people just fixate more over sleep and food during Ramadan when this month is for redirecting our attention and loyalties to Allah. It is an opportunity to express ourselves as individuals living for the reason of worship, virtue and simplicity. 

Maybe this makes us Ramadniyoon - Muslims who are conscious of Allah only in Ramadan? If not the entire year, if not every day, at least alhamdulillah, in Ramadan we remember Allah. Something is better than nothing right? So lets do something this Ramadan. Lets do something that will help us remember Allah always. I personally don't like sharing my plans lest I lose barakah in my intention and efforts. But since Ramadan is so ravishing, we should make special exceptions, thereby encouraging each other

1a.  Salah is our best connection with Allah, I want to inshaAllah study Namaz-e-Nabwi with Dr. Farhat 

1b. Memorize new duaas to recite in Salah inshaAllah

2. Journey to Allah by ibn Rajab inshaAllah

3. Recitation of complete Qur'an inshaAllah