Ramadan Is over but The Ajr Isn’t

Ramadan is a month of Rahmah (mercy). We feel closer to Allah; it becomes easier to do ibadaah, we are able to wake up for tahajjud, we give more sadaqah than we usually do – and as a result our Iman naturally strengthens.

After such a spiritual high, it is only natural that our Iman decrease. The question is however, how can we quickly pull our Iman back up and still maintain the good habits that we’ve built over the month?

The key is continuing self-analysis. Real change does not come without pain. Keeping yourself in check means being brutally honest about your shortcomings. Use the heart-wheel to continuously check your spiritual health and use the life wheel for all other aspects of life.

Requirements to the Self-Check System:

1. Honesty

2. Sincere intention (ikhlaas)

3. Willingness to change

4. No excuses

5. Patience

Abu Hurairah reports that the Messenger of Allah said:

 “Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven during the last third of the night, inquiring:

‘Who will call on Me so that I may respond to him?

Who is asking something of Me so I may give it to him?

Who is asking for My forgiveness so I may forgive him?’” [Fiqh us-Sunnah]

Help Him help you. Allah subhanu wa ta’ala promises us forgiveness in the last 1/3 of the night. This last 1/3 of the night is a gift from Allah to His servants; use this time to take advantage of Allah’s mercy. He promises us that He will answer us, so all we have to do is call out to Him, azza wa jall.

We have unlimited opportunities to gain ajr after Ramadan:

• Visiting the sick

• Giving up free time

• Being involved in the Masjid

• Helping out a friend

• Being kind to parents

• Giving sadaqah every time you go to the Masjid

These are all things which we can do to continuously gain ajr. Our good deeds do not need to be restricted to the month of Ramadan. After all, we are worshippers of the Lord of Ramadan, not the month of Ramadan itself.

What are some things that elevate your Iman? Everyone has different motivators. What motivates you? What do you visualize for yourself after Ramadan?

Everyone wants Jannah is not surprising. What defines the winners from the losers however is not desire - it is action. You know you want jannah, but what are you willing to do for it?

Similarly, you want a lasting “Iman boost”, but how are you going to get it? This goes back to linking action with purpose. If you want your Iman to be elevated even after Ramadan, your purpose must be strong - there must be no other option but success!

Keeping motivated after Ramadan is extremely important. Sometimes you can self-motivate, but when the whispers of shaytaan get to you, you may find yourself getting weak. How can you combat this?

One way to do this is to have a specific, realistic post-Ramadan plan. For example, if you have a schedule that says you will continue praying tahajjud every night like you did in Ramadan, the likelihood that you will miss one night and give up all together is high. A realistic plan should balance your spiritual and physical needs. Make it routine, but make sure its “doable” in the long run.

Two things in order to be successful after Ramadan are having an Ultimate Vision and an Ultimate Purpose.