SUSTAINING
GOOD HABITS
AFTER RAMADAN
Ramadan is a month to recharge our iman and increase our spirituality. We usually
convince ourselves that we will go into “pious mode” prior to Ramadan. Once it
arrives, we tend to meet at least some of our goals, since it is relatively easier to carry
out good deeds due to the environment Ramadan provides. However, we find that
soon after Ramadan is over, more than half the charge of our worship is drained.
For example, some individuals spend hours each day of Ramadan reading and
memorizing the Quran, then when Ramadan ends, the Quran is not even touched,
giving birth to the pejorative term Ramadani hafiz. Why is it that good deeds do not
stick with us after Ramadan? And how come an entire month of worship does not
help us develop lasting good habits?
Three key points are often neglected,
making it difficult to sustain a good
deed after Ramadan:
1. Not making intention to
continuously perform the good
deed.
2. Not knowing or not keeping in
mind the benefits and virtues of
the action.
3. Not seeking the help of Allah in
dua
If these points are addressed, we
will find that Ramadan is a great
opportunity to introduce life-changing
habits into our lives. These habits can
range from being consistent with
salah and controlling anger, to eating
healthy and positively transforming
our lifestyle. Apply these points to any
habit you want to develop, make a list
of the reasons you want to perform the
action daily, and start doing the action
before Ramadan starts. Reciting the
Quran is something almost everyone
struggles with in this era and daily
recitation of the Quran is something
that even some huffaz struggle with.
It might seem like procrastination,
however, at times it may be complete
abandonment. “And the messenger
will say, ‘O my Lord, my people had
abandoned this Quran’” (25:30). It
is horrifying and embarrassing to
imagine the scene of the Mercy of the
Worlds a complaining to the Lord of
the Worlds about us.
The most important factor preventing
us from developing a habit is not
having the intention or the willingness
to do that action continuously. Many
of the individuals who recite the
Quran during Ramadan are going
with the flow. Some read to compete
with others, while others recite
because they feel regret for not having
By M. Muhammad Saeed
12 March - April 2020 | AL-MADINAH