For me, Ramadan has always been the month of fasting where I would fast, strive for the sake of Allah swt and stay away from that which displeases Him. I am disheartened to say that it didn’t mean more than to me because the moment Ramadan ends, I would go straight back to whatever I was engaged in before Ramadan. I never clearly understood the real purpose of Ramadan: attaining taqwa.
As I learn more about the deen, I am realizing that Ramadan is not a means to an end. Allah swt is blessing us with this opportunity every single year to break bad habits and make new ones. I am wondering what our lives would look like if we were to read Quran every single day or our nights if we established nightly prayers every single night.
This Ramadan, unlike all previous Ramadans, I’ve finished my first khatma on the 19th. I am wondering why I have never tried this before since it’s possible to do more than a khatma a month. Why was I depriving myself from this beautiful blessing?
Allah swt says in Surah An-Nahel :33 “And Allah never wronged them, but it was they who wronged themselves.” Not only have I deprived myself but I have wronged it too.
So here I am, Alhamdu-li’Allah, intending to make a second khatma during these blessed last days.
As I was going through the Quran, I read beautiful verses that has great lessons and each time, I would stop and think about the last time I read these verses. Take a guess and it will probably be correct; last Ramadan.
The Quran is the rope that connects us with Allah swt. We are literally suspended midair and as we go through difficulties, hardships, times when we are lonely and desperate, this rope is what will save us. This rope is what will calm the storms within. But one might wonder how can they take advantage of this rope and hold on to it if they are connecting with the entirety of the Quran once a year?
“The Messenger has cried, “O my Lord! My people have indeed received this Quran with neglect.” [Surah Al-Furqan: 30].
I can’t think of how many times I’ve read this ayah and felt it doesn’t apply to me. This Ramadan, I am keeping in mind the main reason the Quran was revealed “This is˺ a blessed Book which We have revealed to you ˹O Prophet˺ so that they may contemplate its verses, and people of reason may be mindful.” [Surah Saad: 29].
My journey to connect and be mindful of the Quran is starting this Ramadan but insha’Allah, it won’t end as the last day of Ramadan becomes the first night of Shawwal.
– NYM Sister
