Mosque Foundation | Bridgeview, Illinois Logo
Mosque Foundation | Bridgeview, Illinois

Mosque Foundation

Ramadan: A Journey of Spiritual Liberation and Divine Mercy

First Friday prayer is at 12:00pm . second friday prayer is at 1:30pm

Ramadan: A Journey of Spiritual Liberation and Divine Mercy

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “There has come to you Ramadan, a blessed month, which Allah, has enjoined you to fast. In it the gates of heavens are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and every devil is chained up. In it Allah has a night which is better than a thousand months; whoever is deprived of its goodness is indeed deprived” (Sunan an-Nasa’i).

Ramadan is a manifestation of divine beauty and love upon Allah’s servants. As we approach this sacred month, we should feel a profound sense of awe and inspiration at Allah’s generosity and beauty. Ramadan is not merely a time for fasting, praying, and reading the Quran; it is an opportunity to deepen our spiritual connection with Allah, embracing the profound love and beauty that this month offers.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “(Allah says) fasting is for me and I shall reward for it. The fasting person rejoices twice: when he breaks his fast and the day when he meets his Lord. And the smell that come from the mouth of the fasting person is better before Allah than the fragrance of musk.” (Sunan an-Nasa’i). This Hadith highlights that Allah is speaking to us about our breath. Allah’s deep awareness and care for us, even in the smallest details such as our breath. Allah acknowledges that leaving our desires is not easy and that our bad breath may not be pleasing to those around us. Just as only a mother and father can love the scent of their child or baby, Allah knows that our bad breath is an indication of our sacrifice and commitment to Him.

Allah tells us that Ramadan is the month when He sent down the words and guidance, He chose for us, indicating what He wants us to follow in life. There are countless choices and things we can do in our lives, but Allah assures us that His guidance is in our best interest. The Quran offers beautiful guidance, showing us how to practice self-discipline and rise above self-indulgence. We can thrive through hardship and difficulty, just like the Prophet, who remained loving and caring no matter how challenging the situation.

Allah tells us that through Ramadan, we can overcome our lower nafs every day. This is the most liberating experience, as our worst enemy is the lower nafs that command us towards evil. Allah’s mercy and love for us are evident in His provision of acts of worship, allowing us to overcome ourselves and learn more about our potential. Many of us doubt our potential and ability to be positive, spiritually elevated people. We lack confidence due to a negative outlook, often thinking that past Ramadans didn’t meet our expectations. But Allah assures us that He wants ease for us, not hardship.

If we fast Ramadan with belief and surrender, trusting Allah and embracing His love, He promises that all our sins will be forgiven. As our beloved prophet ﷺ mentioned, “He who fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven; he who prays during the night in Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven; and he who passes Lailat al-qadr [Night of Decree] in prayer with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven” (Bukhari and Muslim).

Every night in Ramadan, Allah saves people from hellfire, offering endless rewards for every ritual. As our beloved Messenger ﷺ said, “At every breaking of the fast Allah has people whom He frees (from the Fire), and that happens every night” (Sunan Ibn Majah). As we approach Ramadan, let us do so with humility and the best opinion of Allah in our hearts. Let’s leave our past failures behind and not let them sour our experiences. Don’t doubt Allah’s mercy and His desire to ease your burdens.

 

By Imam Basheer Abdeen

Jan 30, 2025

-