Once, on a day that I will never forget, we went with some colleagues to offer condolences to someone who was recently bereaved. One of our brothers gave a sermon, asking Allah The Almighty to have mercy upon the deceased, and in the end, he said, "I ask Allah to let us live long enough to witness Ramadan."

We greeted the family of the deceased and while we were on our way back, all of a sudden, our colleague who had given the sermon found that he was unable to breathe and developed severe palpitations. He did not respond to our calls and his situation worsened in front of our eyes. We rushed him to the hospital, where he was placed on a bed in the emergency ward. When the doctor came to him, he raised his finger and said, "I hope that Allah will compensate my loss of Ramadan. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His Messenger."

Before sunset that day, he had passed away from the world. His hope to reach Ramadan was not realized.

The sun of Ramadan is about to rise, to cover the universe with its beauty before it sets again. Hence, hasten to seek refuge with Allah The Almighty, the Knower of the unseen.

Whispers:

Ramadan was not intended to make you hungry or turn your lips dry. If you knew the wisdom behind it, you would wish all the years of your life would become Ramadan. Your Lord wants to elevate your rank so that you will be called on the Day of Resurrection from the gate of Rayyaan; so that a house is built for you in the highest levels of Paradise.

Have you not heard the words of the Most Merciful about the offer of purchasing a house in Paradise in return for fasting the month of Ramadan? Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Indeed, the righteous will be in a secure place; within gardens and springs, wearing [garments of] fine silk and brocade, facing each other. And We will marry them to fair women with large, [beautiful] eyes.} [Quran 44:51-54]

Tell the owners of TV channels, ‘Is it not time for dust to accumulate upon the television sets, with the advent of Ramadan?’

Tell those whose legs are exhausted from roaming in the malls and markets, whose feet are tired from pursuing girls and flirting with them, ‘Is it not time to stand in a straight line in Qiyaam with the advent of Ramadan?’

Tell the women who wear the incorrect Niqaab (the face-veil that does not cover the face properly) and who follow fashion trends enthusiastically, 'O Muslim sisters, is it not time to lower your garment with the advent of Ramadan? Look how great Asmaa’ bint Abu Bakr was! She split her belt in order to serve her religion and carry the food of her beloved Prophet while you, Muslim daughters and grand-daughters of the nation of the Master of humanity, are splitting your Hijaab in order to expose what is hidden from your hands and clothes! Is it not time for your adorned and perfumed ‘Abayahs (cloaks) to leave your closet with the advent of Ramadan?’

Tell those whose hands are tired from switching between different pages on the internet, ‘Is it not the time to stop chatting and to open the Book of Allah with the advent of Ramadan?’

Tell those who have abandoned prayers for years and are far from salvation, ‘Is it not time to remove the dust from your feet, to pray with your loved ones and to reconcile with the mosque in your street or district?’

Tell those whose musical ringtones cause a disturbance and stir lustful emotions, ‘Is it not time to change them in Ramadan?’

Tell those who have restricted the blessings of Ramadan with the restraints of quarrels, "Ramadan is calling you. Remove the shackles to free Ramadan. How many months of Ramadan have you fasted before, but failed to reap their benefits because of quarreling and fighting? Their deeds are shown to the Lord, but a caller cries out: 'Wait till they reconcile.'"

Tell those whose hearts are filled with grudges, is it not time for hatred to leave your hearts? Are you not motivated by longing upon seeing the crescent of Ramadan to embrace your friends?

There are certain actions in Ramadan that destroy the rewards of fasting. Many people lead completely different lifestyles during the day and night in Ramadan. They may safeguard their eyes, ears and tongue during the day, but when the sun sets, and they break their fast with delicious food, they completely forget the fast of the day gone by. Such a person may give free rein to his tongue, channel surf all night long, listen to music and indecent lyrics – what a great loss!

Thus, a person may damage what he builds during the day, lose his rewards and render his fasting in vain. It is indeed strange to see a man who builds a house all day long and adorns it with the remembrance of Allah The Almighty and reciting the Quran, but once he hears the Athaan (call for prayer) at sunset, he ruins what he has built.

Take care, because what you build in the life of this world is what you will find on the Day of Judgment in front of Allah The Almighty.
(To be continued)

The Key to the Gate Called Rayyaan - II