Ramadan Reflections - Juz 1-3
Ramadan 2022 - Juz 1
۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَسْتَحْىِۦٓ أَن يَضْرِبَ مَثَلًۭا مَّا بَعُوضَةًۭ فَمَا فَوْقَهَا ۚ فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ فَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فَيَقُولُونَ مَاذَآ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَـٰذَا مَثَلًۭا ۘ يُضِلُّ بِهِۦ كَثِيرًۭا وَيَهْدِى بِهِۦ كَثِيرًۭا ۚ وَمَا يُضِلُّ بِهِۦٓ إِلَّا ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ ٢٦
“Surely Allah does not shy away from using the parable of a mosquito or what is even smaller.
As for the believers, they know that it is the truth from their Lord. And as for the disbelievers, they argue, “What does Allah mean by such a parable?” Through this, He leaves many to stray, and guides many. And He leaves none to stray except the rebellious” - Quran 2:26
Everything around us is incredible, even the little flies and mosquitoes. If you’ve ever tried to draw blood or make a miniature plane, you’ll know it’s no easy feat and yet mosquitoes are drawing blood at will and flying off with it! We have to applaud their endeavour at least 😅
For people of belief and reflection there are signs in this, signs that point to the magnificence and intricacies of our planet and the universe at large. Signs that make us stop and say Subhanallah “All praise is due to God”.
This is part of the human condition, this element of wonder and intrigue, seeking to be humbled by something greater than ourselves. We live our lives searching for awe and looking to venerate something greater than ourselves, there are signs in everything that point back to the magnificence of God the Creator (al-Khaliq, one of His 99 names)
Some say these are not signs but just coincidences. People are too willing to close their hearts off to the signs around them, coming up with excuses and other explanations for why life isn’t miraculous.
For people of God however everything is miraculous. Even the small things, like mosquitoes.
It’s human nature that we may begin to overlook how amazing they are and how wonderful life is. But it is important to remain grateful, and to remain in awe, and worship God through praising him and acknowledging his magnificence wherever we may see it.
Ramadan 2022 - Juz 2
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ١٨٣
“O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those before you—so perhaps you will become mindful ˹of Allah˺”. — Quran 2:183
Allah tells us specifically that Ramadan is a chance for us to turn back to him and be mindful of him. The main aim, is that through our worship of him we are mindful of Allah. Just as with all things in the religion, and this life as a whole, our primary aim is to have taqwa, mindfulness of Allah. To understand him, appreciate him and know him deeper.
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ١٨٥
“Ramaḍân is the month in which the Quran was revealed as a guide for humanity with clear proofs of guidance and the standard ˹to distinguish between right and wrong˺. So whoever is present this month, let them fast. But whoever is ill or on a journey, then ˹let them fast˺ an equal number of days ˹after Ramaḍân˺. Allah intends ease for you, not hardship, so that you may complete the prescribed period and proclaim the greatness of Allah for guiding you, and perhaps you will be grateful.”
— Quran 2:185
A few ayahs later Allah tells us about the virtues of the Quran and it’s why we endeavour to read more of the Quran both in its original Arabic and a language we understand so that we can enjoy and benefit from its meanings as well as it’s recitation. This may be through reading ourselves, listening to recitation or through night time prayers such as taraweeh where many mosques will aim to finish a complete recitation of the Quran in this month.
It’s important we don’t do all these things as mere rituals though and through it all we remember what Allah told us was the primary purpose of Ramadan, to be mindful of Him, to draw closer to Him and to know him through Ramadan.
He is the one that we thank for all goodness and we rely on throughout all hardships.
وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةًۭ وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ حَسَنَةًۭ وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ ٢٠١
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ نَصِيبٌۭ مِّمَّا كَسَبُوا۟ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ ٢٠٢
There are those who say, “Our Lord! Grant us the good of this world and the Hereafter, and protect us from the torment of the Fire.”
It is they who will receive a ˹heavenly˺ reward for the good they have done. Surely Allah is swift in account.
— Quran 2:201 - 2:202
#ramadan2022 #alhumdulillah #رمضان
Ramadan 2022 - Juz 3
ٱللَّهُ وَلِىُّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ يُخْرِجُهُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَوْلِيَآؤُهُمُ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتُ يُخْرِجُونَهُم مِّنَ ٱلنُّورِ إِلَى ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ ۗ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ ٢٥٧
Allah is the Guardian of the believers—He brings them out of darkness and into light. As for the disbelievers, their guardians are false gods who lead them out of light and into darkness. It is they who will be the residents of the Fire. They will be there forever. — Quran 2:257
Allah told us the primary purpose of Ramadan, is to be mindful of Him, to have taqwa of Him, to draw closer to Him and to know Him through Ramadan. What does this mean practically?
It means He is the only one that we thank for all goodness. A new job, a new friend, a nice cake, we thank all the people involved but we mostly thank Allah. All the people and processes along the way were just manifestations of His will (His irada), but ultimately He was in control for the whole journey, and He led us exactly where we needed to be.
Conversely when we’re going through hardships we rely on Allah alone, we take the means that He sends us and we’re grateful to utilise them. But when no solution is forthcoming, we still remain firm on our belief in Him and His will to guide us through, maybe not in the way that we want, but in the way that we need.
When the Quran talks about people taking false gods these aren’t often other “deities” like in classical polytheistic societies. This won’t be like the Greek pantheon of gods. Rather this is the modern atheism of relying on oneself to solve all of one’s problems, relying on one’s wealth or considering oneself to be powerful and capable.
In truth any wealth, power or capability we have is a temporary gift from Him alone and can vanish as quickly as it appeared. We are truly always at His mercy.
Similarly in seeking things other than Allah. Throughout human history, the human condition has sought money, power and status — glorifying the self instead of Allah.
Allah reminds us in the Quran of the importance of only glorifying Him. Relying only on Him. He is the source of all our sustenance and ability, the provider for everything of ours.
حَسْبُنَا ٱللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ ٱلْوَكِيلُ ١٧٣
“Allah ˹alone˺ is sufficient ˹as an aid˺ for us and ˹He˺ is the best Protector.” — Quran 3:173