Post-Ramadan Syndrome

Who remembers Ramadan?

The month of fasting and of charity, the month of racing to gain closeness to Allah swt, and the month of discipline and of examination. Oh a dear dear month it is, often leaving us on a high, the tears straining themselves behind their ducts, imaan levels keeping us fully charged for night prayers, and the tongue safely guarded within its enclosure.

Yet having left us a month ago, do we still feel the same? And how do we remind ourselves of Ramdan's legacy and teachings, so that it lives within us?

This article shares with you two reminders sent out by two FOSIS Members upon Ramadan's departure, so that they may be of benefit to us all. (Note: both reminders have been edited and cut from)

1) This reminder was sent out by Abdulrahman Alhadithi, current Leeds Isoc President and FOSIS head of Campaigns. Br Abdulrahman can be reached at head.campaigns@fosis.org.uk

While celebrating and experiencing the joy of Eid, we often forget the purpose of the whole month that came before it and its struggles. Not only is Ramadhan a month of blessings, but is also a month long opportunity to learn more about yourself and your weaknesses, it is a month dedicated to self-accountability and assessment.
God, Almighty, says in the holy Quran:

"It was in the month of Ramadan that the Qur'an was revealed as guidance for mankind, clear messages giving guidance and distinguishing between right and wrong"

After reading the above verses, one would ask themselves "Why, out of all months, does Ramadhan make me mindful of Allah? And the fact that the Qur'an was revealed in this month, as guidance, surely implies that this is THE month of guidance, but how would it guide me?"

The answer is very simple:

Abu Hurayrah (May Allah be well pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, "When the month of Ramadan enters, the gates of heaven are opened, the gates of hell are shut, and the devils are shackled." [Bukhari]

Putting the above verses and Hadith into context and linking them, one would conclude that God, Almighty, has given people the chance to hold themselves accountable and test their ability to resist their inner desires and temptations without the external influence of (Devils) Satans. Therefore, all actions committed by people during this Holy month come from their inner selves and not from the devils. This, therefore, allows people to assess the strength of their faith and their discipline. And only by assessing your performance, would you be able to make use of the guidance referred to in the above verses.

Now that this month is over, one should look back at their performance during Ramadhan and ask themselves which category they fall into:

1. Those that were better in Ramadhan: These people need to work on overcoming the influence of Satan on them by maintaining the healthy Ramadhan habits, which they don't practice during other times of the year.

2. Those that are usually good but didn't improve in Ramadhan: these are the people whose barrier is themselves and so, must overcome themselves and push themselves that extra step towards God during the rest of the year.

3. Those that had bad habits throughout the year and didn't change in Ramadhan: these are the easy targets for Satan. They must overcome themselves as well as Satan's whispers.

Q: After figuring out the answer to the above question, what must one do to improve or build upon what they already have?

A: The answer is in the second Quranic verse above: Once you know yourself, your abilities, your strengths and you weaknesses, the next step is to build on what you have and fix whatever is wrong by strengthening your relationship with the Qur'an, as it was sent as guidance and a clear message to distinguish between right and wrong. Hence the very strong link between Ramadhan and the Holy Qur'an.

In summary: Ramadhan is a month of self accountability and getting to know yourself better, and the Qur'an was sent in Ramadhan as a solution to help you overcome all obstacles which get in your way of becoming a better person. But you must first hold yourself accountable, figure out where your weaknesses are and then overcome them using the Qur'an.

Now that Ramadhan is over, after assessing our performance during the holy month, we must all set the following targets:

1. To maintain the healthy Ramadhan habits.
2. To work on any shortcomings
3. To build a strong relationship with The Holy Qur'an
4. To be generous and give a share of their wealth to the poor
5. To let go of any grudges they may have against anyone, forgive all those who may have harmed you in anyway and to seek forgiveness from all those who you may have brought harm/oppression to in anyway

We should try to fulfil all of the above during the year ahead of us and assess our performance in the next Ramadhan to see how much we've improved.

And Allah knows best

2) Faisal Hanjra is in his second term as FOSIS President. Previously he was head of Media and head of Student Affairs. Br Faisal was also the president of Queen Mary Isoc for three years.

Dear Brothers and Sisters

Asalaamu Alaykum,

As this month of mercy draws to a close let us remember the sacrifices that we have made during this month, the regular fasting, the regular night prayers and the leaving of sins and let us resolve to take forward these positive lessons over the next year. Having fasted 29 days consecutively how hard is it for example to fast the six days of shawwal:

Abu Ayyoob (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

"Whoever fasts Ramadaan and follows it with six days of Shawwaal, it will be as if he fasted for a lifetime."
(Narrated by Muslim, Abu Dawood, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nisaa'i and Ibn Maajah).

Or having made it to the masjid regularly for the night prayers how hard is it now to just find a single night in the week or maybe even two when we can stand before Allah in the last third of the night and ask Him (SWT) for whatever we wish:

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

"In Paradise there are apartments the outside of which can be seen from the inside and the inside of which can be seen from the outside." A Bedouin stood up and said: "Who are they for, O Messenger of Allaah?" He said: "They are for those who speak good words, feed others, fast regularly and pray to Allaah at night when people are sleeping."
(Classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi)

And this is a reminder really to myself first and foremost, let us reflect on the lessons of this month and resolve to leave it in a better state than which we entered it in.