Between Hope and Fear in the Last Days of Ramadhaan - I

In order to see the missing significance of the days of Ramadhaan, one should do his best to strive against himself, to get rid of the burdens and veils that hinder him from spending, being devoted and drawing close to Allaah The Almighty. Let us see how the Messenger of Allaah, , and his Companions hastened to these things. In fact, they were in a far higher state. Whenever they were unable to find something to spend, they would weep and their eyes would overflow with tears, as described by Allaah The Almighty in His Saying (what means): {There is not upon the weak or upon the ill or upon those who do not find anything to spend any discomfort when they are sincere to Allaah and His Messenger. There is not upon the doers of good any cause [for blame]. And Allaah is forgiving and merciful. Nor [is there blame] upon those who, when they came to you that you might give them mounts, you said, "I can find nothing for you to ride upon." They turned back while their eyes overflowed with tears out of grief that they could not find something to spend [for the cause of Allaah].}[Quran 9:91-92] It was their habit that whenever they were unable to find something to spend in the cause of Allaah The Almighty, they would weep, and their eyes would overflow with tears. They did not only weep like the weepers of today, who weep for some time after which they would cease and return to their previous state of heedlessness and indulgence in food, drink and sexual intercourse. Rather, they wept and their eyes overflowed with tears, out of grief that they could not find anything to spend in the cause of Allaah The Almighty.

On the other hand, those who have enough means to spend withhold and refrain from spending. It is as if they wait to be replaced by their Lord with others and annihilated due to their greediness, stinginess and the fact that they do not deserve to be in the party of Allaah The Almighty. They did not deserve to be among those covered up with His care, of those selected to be worthy of this nearness and these acts of obedience, of those worthy of coming out after fasting in the state of righteousness referred to by Allaah The Almighty who Says (what means): {O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.}[Quran 2:183]

The people who have attained the nearness of Allaah The Almighty  comes out of Ramadhaan righteous, with the signs of piety, forgiveness and emancipation from Hell visible on them. They come out more devoted to Allaah The Almighty, more ascetic in this world, more upright, more loving and much closer to his Lord, more observant of His commands and prohibitions, more kind-hearted, more tearful, and more submissive outwardly and inwardly. All of this indicates that a person has been forgiven, granted mercy or emancipated from Hell. He comes in a better state in terms of love for and remembrance of Allaah The Almighty and longing to meet Him.

Other duties pertaining to the last ten days include:

1-    I‘tikaaf (staying in seclusion)

2-    Exerting greater effort and care concerning the acceptance of deeds.

 

With the coming of these ten days and nights, striving begins in earnest where one stands in the presence of his Lord with full devotion, showing Him what causes his Lord to be pleased with him, gives him generously, loves him, draws closer to him, delivers him from his deplorable state, guards him, defend him and provides for him.

As these days come to an end, one should strive harder and draw closer (to his Lord), wishing that his outcome would appear and brighten his face. He should hope that his outcome would be good during those days, and dread failure and rejection of his deeds as stated by the Messenger of Allaah, : "‘Disgraced be the one who witnesses Ramadhaan without being forgiven! Disgraced be the one who witnesses Ramadhaan without being forgiven! Disgraced be the one who witnesses Ramadhaan without being forgiven, then, may Allaah keep him far (from Paradise) and admit him to Hell! Say Aameen!’I then said, ‘Aameen.’" [At-Tabaraani]