A Precious Goal to Achieve in Ramadan

The bliss of good news is that it produces a great relief, joy and happiness in one’s soul, whether the person is undergoing tough times or not. In fact, good news carries within it a powerful, positive effect that quakes one’s emotions. At the hearing of the glad tidings, one feels transported by euphoria and overwhelmed by sweet feelings. But, does the Muslim sincerely have such a euphoria when he/she hears the glad tidings from Allah (swt) or from His Messenger (pbuh)? The reality is that the sweet feelings are only produced if the good news brings an answer to the desires of the heart. A heart distracted and absorbed by futile worries of this life, would not be able to comprehend or perceive Allah’s glad tidings. In fact, the concern of such a heart is to have the “futile” worries of this present life fixed, which would make then this person happy!

One can comprehend that it is a sign of a blindness in the heart if no sweet feelings arise following the hearing of Allah’s glad tidings. We might then understand the reason for which Allah, the Most Merciful, has called the believers to focus and work on such an endeavor. He (swt) said: “Say, 'In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy - in that let them rejoice; it is better than what they accumulate'" (10:58). Reading this Ayah helps one also deduct that the path to higher level of piety and righteousness is to make the heart rejoice in Allah’s gift of guidance, of Iman (faith), of Quran and to be delighted and overwhelmed with Allah’s glad tidings.

A sincere believer should make this objective the primary goal of Ramadan. He/she should engage in inner conversations wondering, “how can I have my heart be sensitive and responsive to Allah’s word and rejoicing the divine glad tidings?” There is not a straightforward answer to this question, but there are guidelines which can put one on the right track. The rest depends on one’s sincerity, eagerness and dedication.

From the general guidelines one can extract from the Quran that help build this objective are the following:

• Making the purpose of acquiring knowledge, the reaching of a level in which one stands before Allah in the hours of the night fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of Allah. This point is profound and deeply insightful for people of understanding. It certainly helps one, with the help of Allah (swt), set the right perspective of one’s journey of knowledge. For, “Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night, prostrating and standing [in prayer], fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, [like one who does not]? Say, 'Are those who know equal to those who do not know?' Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding” (39:9).

• Seeking a warm tear in a deep Sujud (prostration), offered with complete humility. It is not the tear itself one should be seeking. Instead, the efforts put into the worship, powered by love, piety and humility and the sincere longing to be nearer to Allah (swt) that occur to produce such a warm tear are what ought to be sought. “… Whenever the revelations of the Most Compassionate were recited to them, they fell down, prostrating and weeping” (19:58). “And they fall down upon their faces weeping, and it increases them in humility” (17:109).

• Striving to listen to Allah (swt) speaking when reading the Quran. He is your Guardian, your Protector, your Provider. And He is speaking to you. “He is the One Who showers His blessings upon you — and His angels pray for you — so that He may bring you out of darkness and into light. For He is ever Merciful to the believers.” (33:43). Would you not then attentively listen to the words of Allah, so you can discover the gems of guidance, mercy and success? “When the Qur'an is read, listen to it with attention, and hold your peace: that you may receive Mercy” (7:204).

Implementing such guidelines with sincerity in striving and dedication in action would lead one to find in the divine glad tidings the path to peace and to the ultimate bliss. When the believer sees him/herself overwhelmed with sweet feelings at the hearing of Allah’s glad tidings, he/she should know that he/she has (AlHamdulillah) an illuminated Basira (inner sight) and a heart that is alive.

It is the month of Ramadan which the Prophet (pbuh) gave us the glade tidings of its coming with the following saying: “Ramadan has come to you, a blessed month which Allah has enjoined you to fast, during which the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hellfire are closed, and the devils are chained up. In it there is a night which is better than one thousand months, and whoever is deprived of its goodness is indeed deprived.”

In such favorable conditions of much Blessings and abundant Mercy, the sincere believer should seize the opportunity to work on making a change in his/her life by making the heart rejoice in the bounty of Allah (swt) and His mercy more than anything else, as they are far better than what one can possibly amass from this worldly life.

Start this journey by checking your heart at the reading of the following glad tidings: “Give good tidings to the believers that they will have from Allah great bounty” (33:47).