End of Devotion* [[--Final Episode--]]

 *End of Devotion*

[[--Final Episode--]]
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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

As we witnessed increase in worshipping Allah in this year blessed month of Ramadan, we should never look down on others who may not *(for one reason or the other)* be worshipping Allah as much *(like us)*. Yes. We should never think we are better than them. Likewise, we should be careful of falling into the trap of ʿujb. ʿUjb refers to feeling pleased with one’s own accomplishments.

This stems from thinking too highly of oneself, being ignorant of one’s own nature and faults.

Ibn al-Qayyim (r.a.) writes

“A sin that causes you to humble yourself to Allah (swt) is dearer to Allah than a righteous act accompanied by boastful self-righteousness. If you sleep all night then wake up feeling regret (for not having prayed qiyām al-layl), that may be better for you than if you were to pray all night and wake up in the morning filled with self-admiration or telling people about your Tahajjud. For the deeds of the one who admires himself are not accepted…The crying of the sinners is dearer to Allah than the self-satisfied tasbīḥ of the conceited. Perhaps Allah made (the sinner) fall into this sin as a cure that brings out a lethal illness, but your illness still resides within undetected.”

Muslim Faithful!

Were we to realise how Powerful, Magnificent, and Independent Allah is, and then contrast this with how sinful, weak and ungrateful we are, we could never feel pleased at our own insignificant deeds.

Were we to internalise the essence of Allah’s Lordship (rubūbiyyah), and contrast this with the essence of servitude (ʿubūdiyyah), we would feel ashamed and realise that the good deeds we have done are not worthy to be presented to the Lords of the heavens and the earth. Instead, it is only from HIS sheer generosity and grace that HE accepts and rewards us for our paltry actions.

“When you are pleased with your nafs (inner self) and your deeds for Allah, then know that HE is not pleased with you. How can anyone who knows that his nafs is the abode of every defect and evil, and his deeds open to every deficiency and damage — be pleased with his nafs and his deeds for Allah?” 📚(A Pious Predecessor, Madārij al-Sālikīn)

*Note:* It's not a sin to worship Allah in anyway and feel happy about it while praying that Allah accepts it

*Bring it together on Fridays!*

One of the great parts of Ramadan is that it is something we anticipate, which we then mourn when it departs. But there are other moments and discrete times in the Islamic calendar that are similar – and there is one huge blessing that we are given every week that we do not take advantage of: The blessed day of Jumuah!

My people!

Scholars throughout our history treated Friday as a day around which the whole week – indeed one’s how life – should be based. It is no wonder that in Muslim countries Friday is a day off work. Even though the general piety of our societies has decreased, nonetheless there is a residual tradition they carry onwards even today.

Make Fridays a day that you anticipate with the same gusto as Ramadan. Dress well during it, apportion times for worship, for Qur’an, for giving, and the immense du’a during the blessed hour of Friday. If we do these, this is a way of supercharging our week, cleansing ourselves from sin, and recharging for the week ahead.

We ask Allah to give us the tawfiq to make what comes ahead beyond Ramadan our best year yet, and the fruit of Ramadan itself!

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