Ramadan and The Light

Have we ever wondered, why we are here? 

Why we are being here, with our family, friends, teachers and other people in our life?

Are we here for fun?

Let see, normally, what people will do in their so-called perfect life. We were born, our parents were so happy. Alhamdulillah, another member of the ummah. Then, we grow up, entering the school. Started from kindergarten, primary school and secondary school. During this period, we met with many friends, and this helps us to be more matured in our life. Some have found their ‘real purpose of life’ (which we will discuss later) and some, still wandering in the streets of their life, searching for the right path. Unfortunately, there are some of us have entered the wrong path, lost in the darkness, whether they realize it or not, Nauzubillah..

Let continue. After having the good results, we enter the universities. Here, the challenges become bigger. We met with different people, different culture, different lifestyle and so much different things occurred here. Some of us started to forget their own goal. Leaving all the good sides, they choose the bad sides. Luckily, there are some of us still istiqamah, not easily lose their focus on what they have to achieve during the universities’ time. And others are still wandering.

Then, we start working as we need to earn the money for our so-called perfect life. We decided to get married, having children, which soon, are going to be our ‘investment of happiness’. As the time passed by, we become older. But, yet, we are still working, as we never satisfied and we think that we can achieve more until our own body stops us to do so. And finally, we passed away, marked the end of our life. That’s it.

Satisfied with that life cycle? Entering the usrah actually, made me realized that this sort of life cycle is quite useless. Or, we called it, the ‘stupid life cycle’. Sounds harsh, but logically, it does make sense. We are born, learning, working, family-ing, and working, and in the end, we just go away. Just like that. 

Puff! 

We didn’t contribute anything to the society, to other people, to our country, and most importantly, to our own deen, Islam. We feeling satisfied that we have prayed five times a day, fasting, and paying zakat, go to Makkah for hajj if we are able to do so. (Some of us may never reach there). 

We feel that “Yeah! I’m a good, real Muslim” after doing all the things mentioned before.  Yes, you may become a good Muslim, but still, there's something lack. 

Have we ever asked ourselves, will people feel our loss when we passed away? Of course, people will never feel that way about us if we do nothing to them. 

So, what we have to do? 

The answer is we have to find the real purpose why we were born in this world. 

When we know that purpose, we will know what to do, in shaa Allah.

In the Quran, Allah have mentioned that human were created to become His servants, following all of His orders and leave all of the things that He prevented us to do.

“I have not created jinn and mankind except to serve Me.”

Surah az-Zariyat 51:56

Most of us are able to do so (Even though to keep doing this aspect is quite hard, too). 

And, He also asked us to become ‘khalifah’ on this earth to prosper it with Islam’s values.

For He it is Who has made you KHALIFA on earth, and has raised some of you by degrees above others, so that He might try you by means of what He has bestowed on you. And there upon We made you their khalifa on earth, so that We might behold how you act

Surah al-An’am, 6:165

Or we called it, amar makruf , nahi munkar (ask the people to do the good deeds and leave the bad deeds). This aspect, actually, were neglected by majority of our ummah. They felt that they are not obliged to do so. For them, this is the work of ustaz and ustazah. 

‘Not our work’. The fact is the only reason why we called the best ummah is because we used to do this important aspect. If we leave this job, are we still deserved to be called ‘the best ummah ever’? 

Think about it

Oh, OK. 

So, how to start? Where to start? It can be started as easy as asking our friends to perform the prayer. Or, give some good advice (not the bad one). Some might say, ‘Well, I’m not good enough, how I can ask people to do the good things?’ As-Syahid Imam Hassan al-Banna once said ‘Correcting ourselves and correcting others’. This quote means we don’t have to wait the time for us to be good, only then we will be ready to invite people to be good. The time might not come, or we might not there when the time come. We can start now.  

Let's chase the light, shall we?

Plus, we are now in Ramadan. The best thing about Ramadan is, it can be a good starter to rebuild our iman and taqwa. The analogy is simple. Look at the fluorescent lamp. When we switch it on, the fluorescent lamp needs the starter to light on. Or else, it will keep light off.

Same goes to us. We need a starter to change. And Ramadan can be a really good starter for us. In shaa Allah. 

Most importantly, we have to believe that if we want to be good, He will always be there and always be ready to show the way. Oh, just for reminder, when we know, the chance that He prepared has come, grab it and hold it as tight as we can (or we called it, mujahadah), as the second chance may never come.

Can see some light now? Go, chase the light and never let it go away!



Written by
i.j.