Alhamdulillah 2/3 of Ramadan has passed, how have you spent it? Have you spent it gossiping on the phone or keeping your tongue busy reciting the Qur’an? Have you spent it sitting in front of a couch watching television or sitting in the masjid waiting for salaah? If you’re one of those who have yet to take full advantage of this blessed month then I have good news for you … … … it’s not over.

Why are you fasting this month? Really, ask yourself. Some people may fast because everyone else is doing it and they don’t want to feel left out, others may fast because they do not want to be shunned by their parents or spouse, while others may fast with the proper intention; to draw closer to Allah.

On the authority of the Commander of the Faithful Abu Hafs ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab who said:
“I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) saying: “Surely, all actions are driven by intentions and, verily, every man shall have but that which he intended. Thus, he whose migration was for Allah and His Messenger, [then] his migration was for Allah and His Messenger; and he whose migration was to achieve some worldly benefit or to take a woman in marriage, his migration was for that which he migrated.”
(Hadith #1, the 40 Hadith of Imam Nawawi)

From this hadith we learn that actions are by intentions and each person will be rewarded according to what he intended. So if you are fasting this month to improve your relationship with your creator and sustainer, then may Allah reward you for it. However, if you are fasting with an incorrect intention then you should purify your intention before your deeds go to waste.

While I was spending time with a friend of mine he asked me why Muslims fast during Ramadan. One common answer we hear is “so that we know how the poor feel.” Though this may be one of the wisdoms behind why we fast, Allah tells us the exact reason why we fast. As with everything else in this Deen when faced with an issue we go back to the Qur’an and the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Allah clearly states in the Qur’an:

“O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) taqwa (piety/self-restraint)”
(Surah Al Baqarah 2:183)

Will you be among the Muslims who learn self restraint and thus become more pious during this blessed month, or among those who continue and/or increase in their disobedience to Allah. A friend of mine said a statement which gave me some understanding of why we fast during Ramadan, he said: “one thing I love about Ramadan is the fact that it shows the strength of the human will”. If you can not eat, refrain from sexual intercourse and everything else that we are prohibited from indulging in during the days of Ramadan then surely you can refrain from committing sins throughout the year. If you can leave the acts that Allah has made permissible for one month then you should be able to leave the acts that Allah has made impermissible for 12 months; self-restraint is a pre-requisite of attaining taqwa.

There is 1/3 of Ramadan left, if you have not already, it’s not too late to begin exerting yourself to become among those who have taqwa because Allah says in the Qur’an

“That man can have nothing but what he strives for, that (the fruit of) his striving will soon come in sight, then will he be rewarded with a reward complete, that to thy Lord is the final goal”
(Surah An-Najm 53:39-42.)

Strive to use your time more beneficially during this blessed month and the months that follow. Strive to improve your relationship with the Qur’an because this is the month in which it was revealed and nothing will increase your iman like reciting the Qur’an (and don’t forget to reflect upon it). Strive to increase the amount of deeds you do because Prophet Mohammad (May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“Whoever draws near to Allah during it (Ramadan) with a single characteristic from the characteristics of (voluntary) goodness, he is like whoever performs an obligatory act in other times. And whoever performs an obligatory act during it, he is like whoever performed seventy obligatory acts in other times.”

(Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, no. 1887)

Likewise, be sure to say what is good or keep silent and to keep renewing your intention. Time is the most valuable resource in life and as Muslims we should use it effectively. Before we know it Ramadan will be over and some of us may regret how we used our time. Make the intention now that you will take full advantage of this Ramadan before it’s over, that you will exert yourself in trying to get closer to Allah and the Qur’an, and that you will strive to be among those who have taqwa. If you started your Ramadan weak, then end strong, and if you started your Ramadan strong, then end even stronger!

We seek assistance from Allah in all of our affairs because Allah is the best of assisters. May Allah accept our deeds, make us among those who are sincere, among those who humble themselves in salaah, and make us among those who strive to please him, ameen. Success is with Allah, have a blessed Ramadan!