- management@smallchangesmy.org
By Rushdina Sofea and Maira Athirah
In a blink of an eye, we are already at the finishing line of this blessed month. While waiting for each sunset and the serene sound of adhan, our borrowed time can feel as if it’s moving so sedately. Fasting for 30 days may have come across as something so grandeur but as we reflect on these past few weeks, it was actually a breeze seeing how far we’ve come. What seems like a tangible lesson may be overlooked; indeed abstaining from food and drink reminds us that these too are blessings from Allah s.w.t. that we take for granted.
I believe the most valuable outcome of observing Ramadan is to emerge from the holy month with new information of who we are, knowledge of ourselves that informs us of our shortcomings and areas for improvement. Evidently, we are able to discover good habits that we can practise and bad habits that are better left behind to make us better human beings and even better muslims. Here are 2 Ramadan Takeaways that we can bring with us in Shawwal :
- Practising Mindfulness: When our five senses are given a vacation from thinking about our next meals, the other areas of our days are heightened with clarity. Suddenly, there is room for us to give more thought before we speak, act and how we spend our time. Our attention is zeroed in on these small but very important details. Unbeknownst to us, it suddenly becomes easier to practise mindfulness. This super power has always been inherently present but is often overshadowed by our other abilities, and in Ramadan it shines through to help us realise our true potential.
- Good Deeds are a Form of Worship: That social courtesy you extend to a stranger by holding the lift when someone is about to enter, assisting your family by doing the dishes, and studying are all forms of worship when done for the sake of the Almighty. We sometimes get caught up in the idea that worship only comes in the form of praying and making dua, but when we perform good deeds in the path of Allah s.w.t that too is worship. This month reminds us that our act of kindness is an act of worship, a reflection of one of his names, The Most Generous (Al-Kareem).
As we part ways with the holy month and embrace Eid Al-Fitr, there’s a bittersweet feeling that accompanies the goodbye. However, it is just as important to welcome the month with open arms as Eid Al-Fitr is a gift given by Allah s.w.t. to reward Muslims for the fruits of their labour after a month of self discipline and perseverance.
We are also given the opportunity to expand our good deeds in this month as the Prophet PBUH said, “Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it with six [days] from Shawwal, it’s as if they have fasted a year” [Sahih Muslim]. This act serves as the cherry on top for a well received Ramadan for those of us who observed it to the fullest.
