From Spiritual Elevation to
Moral Empowerment وَأَوْفُواْ بِعَهْدِ اللّهِ إِذَا عَاهَدتُّمْ وَلاَ تَنقُضُواْ
الأَيْمَانَ بَعْدَ تَوْكِيدِهَا وَقَدْ جَعَلْتُمُ اللّهَ عَلَيْكُمْ كَفِيلاً إِنَّ
اللّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ وَلاَ تَكُونُواْ كَالَّتِي نَقَضَتْ غَزْلَهَا
مِن بَعْدِ قُوَّةٍ أَنكَاثًا And be true to your bond with God whenever you bind
yourselves by a pledge, [110] and do not break [your] oaths after having
[freely] confirmed them [111] and having called upon God to be witness to your
good faith: [112] behold, God knows all that you do. Hence, be not like her who
breaks and completely untwists the yarn which has been spun [Qur’an 16:91-92]
From Mi’raaj to Laylatul Qadr In the days leading up to the month of Ramadaan,
we commemorated the Israa’ wal-Miraaj, that “Night Journey and Ascent” of
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) that occurred at a most critical stage in his
challenging yet illustrious life. It occurred in a period when he lost his
beloved wife, confidant and financier of the nascent Islamic movement, Khadijah;
as well the loss of his political protector and beloved uncle Abu Talib. The
Mi’raaj ia about trust in Allah, about being motivated and never losing hope
even in the darkest hour. We are in the period of Laylatul Qadr, The Night of
Power, which marks the commencement of the final Divine Revelation (the Qur'an)
and which made public the prophetic mission of the final emissary of Allah
(Prophet Muhammad). This event is of the greatest historic, religious and
spiritual significance for it ushered in the beginning of the end; the beginning
of the end of Revelation; the beginning of the ultimate Guidance till the end of
time, the beginning of the final onslaught against polytheism, injustice,
subjugation and oppression and the end of jahiliyyah (all forms of backwardness,
ignorance and retrogression). Our Mi’raaj Our mi’raaj is the spiritual ascent
that we make in our attempt to come closer to the Creator; by being faithful and
doing what is best in the best possible manner in any circumstance. Our mi’raaj
is the ihsaan we manifest; and we know الاحسان من أصول الايمان doing good is of
the foundation of our Deen. No human being is perfect, but every single one is a
work in progress. Commit yourself to excellence in everything you do, but do not
seek perfection; and have the wisdom to know the difference. The quest for
excellence is not a quest for perfection, for only Allah is perfect; the quest
for excellence is actually a willingness and determination to maximize the
potential which Allah has granted to you. A man would do nothing if he waited
until he could do it so well that no one could find fault. Remember that
excellence can be attained by man, while perfection is the domain of the Divine.
So, there is nothing wrong with making a mistake - there is, however, something
wrong with making the same mistake over and over again. Make sure you learn from
errors and setbacks, so that your past serves as a lesson to you and you get
better and wiser each and every day. Ihsaan Ihsaan/Benevolence and ‘adl/justice
are the most comprehensive commands of Islam after Faith. In the Qur’anic
terminology has its independent significance but is complementary to compassion/rahmah.
Ihsaan reinforces rahmah while also infusing human relationships with meaning.
Since Allah is Muhsin/Benevolent, his servants must also bemuhsineen/benevolent
in their attitude and behavior and in all social relations. Remember that the
quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to his/her commitment to
excellence. Knowing the potential of the human being [Qur’an 95:5], the Creator
commands us to strive for excellence [Qur’an 16:90]. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
reminded us that, كتب الاحسان على كل شيء ان الله Allah has prescribed excellence
in everything you do. The notion of ihsaan implies both doing what is good and
rightcoupled with excellence in performance. The commitment to manifest ihsaan
comes from the desire to constantly pursue taqwa; and taqwa is the primary
objective of the fast of Ramadaan [Q 2:183] Taqwa basically implies a degree of
proprietal consciousness with an awareness of the consequence of our deeds
before the Creator Pre-Ramadaan and Post-Ramadaan Ramadaan is also the month
commemorating the reception of the final divine communication, the Qur'an, by
the Prophet and through him to humanity. We read the whole Qur'an and read it
more often, but should also attempt to understand its content and, most
importantly, live by its message. This blessed month has almost passed with all
its goodness, virtues and blessings. It is moving into the past with our deeds;
deeds to be reckoned in the future, deeds that could serve as a witness either
for us or against us. Let everyone of us open a page from the book of our
individual muhaasabah/ self-examination and reflect as to what was achieved
through this month. What benefits were derived, which behaviors were adjusted,
what good practices have been adopted, which bad habits have been relinquished;
and how did the prayers and fasting of Ramadaan influence my attitudes and
perspectives, how did it affect my body, my heart my mind and my soul? Let us
reflect on our conditions before Ramadaan and today, in the last days of
Ramadaan? Are we bidding farewell to only Ramadaan or are we bidding farewell to
all the good deeds we did in Ramadaan as well. Will we maintain the key
practices of patience, humility, compassion, solidarity and generosity
throughout the year? It is a manifestation of the sincerity of our faith to
continue doing acts of obedience to Allah all year round, for the Lord Whom we
fasted for and worshipped in Ramadan is the Lord of Shawwaal and of every moment
before and after. We have developed something positive, let’s perpetuate that.
Allah says, إِنَّ اللّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ وَلاَ تَكُونُواْ كَالَّتِي
نَقَضَتْ غَزْلَهَا مِن بَعْدِ قُوَّةٍ أَنكَاثًا "And be not like the person who
undoes the thread which had been spun, after it has become strong". [Qur’an
16:92] Test of Ramadaan Remember that the test of Ramadaan is not in Ramadaan as
much as it is in keeping up the positive spirit and noble practices of Ramadaan
throughout the year. So, as Ramadaan moves on … realize that we need to
perpetuate the positive spirit we have imbibed and continue on the spiritual
journey towards fulfillment and excellence, towards being the best we can be,
towards taqwa/righteousness. ask; “Am I a better person after Ramadaan than I
was before?” Am I going to undo the good efforts that I have done after
committing myself to Allah? وَأَوْفُواْ بِعَهْدِ اللّهِ إِذَا عَاهَدتُّمْ وَلاَ
تَنقُضُواْ الأَيْمَانَ بَعْدَ تَوْكِيدِهَا وَقَدْ جَعَلْتُمُ اللّهَ عَلَيْكُمْ
كَفِيلاً إِنَّ اللّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ وَلاَ تَكُونُواْ كَالَّتِي
نَقَضَتْ غَزْلَهَا مِن بَعْدِ قُوَّةٍ أَنكَاثًا And be true to your bond with
God whenever you bind yourselves by a pledge, and do not break [your] oaths
after having confirmed them and having called upon God to be witness to your
good faith: behold, God knows all that you do. Hence, be not like her who breaks
and completely untwists the yarn which has been spun [Qur’an 16:91-92]
Harmonizing the Positive A person who is true mu’min/believer, who has
effectively harmonized the positive elements of both the physical and the
spiritual dimensions of the self; is expected to harbor good intentions, have a
clean heart, a positive attitude, an endearing personality; while always
displaying exemplary behavior; … for these Allah promises … مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا
مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً
وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ “Whoever does
good, whether male or female, and is a believer, We shall certainly make him
live a good life, and shall certainly give them their reward for the best of
what they did.[Q 16:97] Our Mi’raaj continues through Laylatul Qadr Our mi’raaj
is the spiritual ascent that we make in our attempt to come closer to the
Creator; once we do that, we able to be empowered by the Divine (light of the
heavens and the Earth), who revealed the revelation as a source of light يَا
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءكُم بُرْهَانٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَأَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكُمْ
نُورًا مُّبِينًا O human beings, there has come to you the proof from your Lord
and We have revealed to you the Manifest Light [Q 4:174] ; that nur which became
manifest on Laylatul Qadr The Qur’an our primary source of guidance,
enlightenment and empowerment ; and by implementing its values we could attain
tranquility in this world and success in the next, insha-Allah. إِنَّ هَـذَا
الْقُرْآنَ يِهْدِي لِلَّتِي هِيَ أَقْوَمُ وَيُبَشِّرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الَّذِينَ
يَعْمَلُونَ الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا كَبِيرًا Verily this Qur'an
guides to that which is best, and conveys Glad Tidings to the Faithful who work
deeds of righteousness, that they shall have a magnificent reward. [Qur’an 17:9]
May Allah grant us to be of those worthy of such reward.