Bidding Farewell To Ramadhan 1440H -- It's Not Over Until It Is Over

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

The month of Quran is almost over. It feels like yesterday we were celebrating the first day of Ramadhan and now it is almost over. Whether you love Ramadhan so much and want it to stay; whether you fell short in Ramadhan and want it to stay so you can do more, Ramadhan got to go. You cannot stop Ramadhan from leaving. It was only here for a limited number of days -- 29 or 30. And you have to wait till next year to see Ramadhan again, that if Allah had decreed that you live long enough.

People who have lost out in Ramadhan were those who had busied themselves with things that did not concern them -- those things that they cannot take with them to their graves, i.e. things that cannot help them succeed in the Hereafter. Our concern in this life should be Allah alone, our standing with Him, and our next life to come. And this is the concern that we trained ourselves in Ramadhan and should have from now and until we breathe our last.

The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to make preparations for Ramadhan six months in advance, in which they would keep asking Allah to let them reach Ramadhan and in good health. Then for the next six months, they would keep asking Allah to accept their Ramadhan worship. This is the way of the best generation of the Ummah of Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and grant him peace). They took the matter of worshiping Allah very seriously. It is their way of life.

It is not over until it is over. Reap the benefits of Ramadhan while it lasts during this final moments with many other good deeds--be good to your parents, call them, thank them, hug them, say you love them. Give extra charity and pay your sadaqatul fitr (this is obligatory on every Muslim) and zakat before your Eid prayer.

Read more Qur'an. Remember each letter you recite is one reward, and rewards are multiplied by ten of their kind. You should try to complete reciting the Qur'an this one last time in Ramadhan, perhaps you can gather your family members and friends to do a group khatam instead of cooking, final shopping for Eid or travelling.

Regarding Ramadhan, it was reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: "...Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month) shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time, and whoever performs an obligatory deed in (this month) shall receive the reward of performing seventy obligation at any other time..."

We should also intend to perform as many good actions, short and long term, and take the means to accomplish them. Actions are only by intentions. Intention is the measure for rendering actions true, so that where intention is sound action is sound, and where it is corrupt then action is corrupt.

From the Amir al-Muminin Abu Hafs 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, radiya'llahu 'anhu, that he said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, saying, 'Actions are only by intentions, and every man has only that which he intended. Whoever's emigration is for Allah and His Messenger then his emigration is for Allah and His Messenger. Whoever's emigration is for some worldly gain which he can acquire or a woman he will marry then his emigration is for that for which he emigrated'." [Bukhari]

It's always the case of too many things to do in such little time. But inshaa Allah from the barakah (blessing) of time and your good intentions, you will be able to accomplish what you intend to do, including what's on your "Ramadhan To Do List" that you were not quite able to do, such as complete reading of the Quran, memorize some surahs, read the meanings of the Quran, learn some Arabic, read some tafsir, seerah, remove certain blameworthy traits, pick up certain praiseworthy trait, establish ties of kinship, etc.

May Allah accept our worship and good deeds of Ramadhan, forgive and pardon us, save us from Hellfire, relieve the tribulations of the Ummah, and enable us to reach the next Ramadhan. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam