AM I BEING WATCHED?

Cruising down the national freeway, exceeding the speed limit, one almost instantaneously steps on his brakes and decelerates. Why? He catches sight of an Traffic Police official and is well aware that HE IS BEING WATCHED!

A person in a supermarket, whose intention is to steal, stops dead in his tracks. Why? He catches sight of the Close Circuit television (CCTV) and is well aware that HE IS BEING WATCHED!

Whichever way one looks at it, the adherence of every law in the system of life stems from the fact that a person is aware that HE IS BEING WATCHED by those tasked with enforcing the law. It is an undisputable fact that those who know that they are not being watched have violated laws more easily than others.

As Muslims we should reflect on the following Aayat: “Does he not know that Allah sees.”(Surah Al-Alaq, Verse 14)

The consciousness of Allah Ta’ala should be deeply entrenched in the heart of every believer. Every action of the Believer’s should be within the codes of the Shariah (The laws of Allah Ta’ala) because a believer has the firm knowledge that he is under the constant and perpetual gaze of Allah Ta’ala.

Ramadaan is the occasion where this awareness of Allah Ta’ala is at its peak

In the month of Ramadaan what stops the believer from secretly eating and drinking? It is not one’s consciousness of Allah Ta’ala and the firm belief that one is being watched by the One Who is All-Seeing.

What prevents one from speaking lies and hurling a string of profanities that one is so accustomed to during other months? Is it not the firm knowledge that Allah Ta’ala, Who is All-Hearing, is fully aware of our actions and listening to us?

At the time of Taraweeh, weighed down by lethargy, we pull ourselves together and make our way to the Musjid, diligently performing not only our Ishaa Salaah but even the 20 Rakaats of Salaatut-Taraweeh. Why? We are fully hopeful of the reward that is kept instore for our acts of Ibaadah.

And finally, why do We fast? The natural answer from every Muslim would be “To attain Jannah” or “the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala”. Have we asked ourselves? “Is Jannah attained by only fasting in the month of Ramadaan or by only performing Jumuah Salaah”? Are there not other commands of Allah Ta’ala? How do I, with the greatest of indifference flaunt and violate these other commands of Allah Ta’ala and still lay claims to Jannah and the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala? Is this not futile and false hopes?

At the end of it all, is not our 1 month of total obedience to Allah Ta’ala absurd and strange? Have we not become seasonal Muslims and selective followers of the Deen?

Is this what Allah Ta’ala expects of us? What would we do if Allah Ta’ala allotted sustenance to us on a seasonal or occasional basis like our obedience to Him is?

IS OUR LIFE GUARANTEED?

How often have we seen a person, anxiously awaiting the Mubaarak month of Ramadaan leaving this world on the eve of the blessed month or even a few days into it?

Ramadaan will come, but the question is will we see it? Allah Ta’ala through His sheer grace and mercy will afford many of us another opportunity, firstly by sparing our lives so that we witness Ramadaan and secondly by giving us the invaluable resources of health, wealth and a host of other favors so that we may do justice and capitalize on the Mubaarak month. A chance to remedy our sinful lives and turn to a life of obedience and devotion. A chance not just to turn over a new leaf, but a chance to turn over an entire tree- A life of total and perennial obedience as opposed to one of seasonal obedience.

THE CURSE OF JIBRAEEL Alaihis Salaam

Hadrat Kaab bin Ujraa Radiyallaahu anhu narrates, Rasulullah Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam (addressing Sahaaba Ridwaanul laahi alaihim ajmaeen) said, “Come near the mimbar”. And we came near the mimbar. When he ascended the first step of the mimbar he said Aameen. When he ascended the second step of the mimbar he said Aameen. And when he ascended the third step of the mimbar, he said Aameen. When he descended, we said, “O Messenger of Allah, we have heard from you today something which we never heard before.” He (Nabi Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, “When I ascended the first step, Jib reel Alaihis Salaam appeared before me and said, “Woe to him who found the blessed month of Ramadaan and let it pass by without gaining forgiveness”. Upon that I said Aameen. When I ascended the second step, he said, “Woe to him bef ore whom your name is mentioned and then he does not send Durood and salawaat upon you.” I replied Aameen. When I ascended the third step he said, “Woe unto the person in whose presence both parents or one of them attain old age, and through failure to serve them is not allowed to enter Jannah.” I said Aameen.(Haakim)

Ma’aazallaah (We beseech the protection of Allah Ta’ala). The angel of Allah Ta’ala curses a person who does not manage to attain forgiveness in the month of Ramadaan (due to him not discharging the rights of Ramadaan) and even more severe is that this curse is sanctioned by the Aameen of the choicest of Allah Ta’ala’s creation, Nabi Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam.

Would anyone in a sound state of mind dare to come under such a curse? How many of us due to having an attitude of indifference to Ramadaan, openly eat, drink, smoke, miss our salaahs and indulge in vice as if it is the most normal thing to do? Are we not falling directly under the curse of Jibraeel Alaihis Salaam?

ADVICE

Ramadaan is here! Where would we be?

Let us awake from our slumber which has plunged this Ummah into the abyss of sin and transgression and use this Ramadaan as a catalyst to perpetual obedience and consciousness of Allah Ta’ala . Let us make this Ramadaan the turning point in our lives and resolve that from the very first day of this Mubaarak month, right up to the point when I am about to breathe my last, I will make every single day as if it is a day of Ramadaan. Let us diligently fulfil the rights of Ramadaan by observing all our fasts, performing all our salaahs, engaging in abundant Zikr, Duaa, Muaamalaat, Muaashharaat, Akhlaakhiyyaat and Tilaawah etc.

DON’T LET THIS RAMADAAN PASS AND OUR LIFE STILL REMAINS UNCHANGED!

WE MIGHT NOT GET THIS OPPORTUNITY AGAIN. RAMADAAN WILL BE HERE AGAIN. WE MIGHT NOT!