Ramadhan A Period of Reassessment?

"O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous," al-Baqarah [2:183]

Alhamdulillah, we are again blessed with the Holy month of Ramadhan.

As suggested in my previous video with brother Aiman Azlan, I am pretty stoked about getting another crack at Ramadhan. It's my favourite time of the year, really.

Imagine, a month every year that is reserved for us to reassess ourselves as Muslims, gauge our sincerity and demands us to be honest to ourselves more than any other month.

Why is this month of self-reassessment? I'm guessing that if 10 people answered this questions, we'd have 10 different answers, so I'll give mine.

In the month of Ramadhan, besides the "not being able to eat and drink during the daytime" part, we're urged to (among other things) do charity (monetary or otherwise), hold our anger and read the Quran.

But then, as Muslims, shouldn't we already be doing charity regularly? Shouldn't we be the most charitable people in the world all the time and not just during that one month of the year?

"Indeed, the men who practice charity and the women who practice charity and [they who] have loaned Allah a goodly loan - it will be multiplied for them, and they will have a noble reward." al-Hadid [57:18]

Isn't the promise of a "noble reward" (Paradise) a good enough motivator for us to do charity whenever the chance presents itself? "

But I DO give charity often!" I hear you cry. Well, that's great! Just super! Just make sure to keep it up (and maybe increase in your giving ways) during this holy month, yeah?

Holding our anger is another thing that we're urged to do. But again, Muslims should be the calmest people on the Earth, in my humble opinion. Why? Because we believe in Allah SWT. We believe in Qada' and Qadr. And also because Allah SWT loves those who control their anger, as said in the al-Quran:

“…those who control their anger and are forgiving toward mankind; Allah loves those who do good.” ali-'Imran [3:134]

Even our Prophet Muhammad SAW told us not to get angry, as recorded by Bukhari in his Sahih as saying:

"Don't get angry," and he repeated this several times. [Bukhari]

That's some advice from the very best of mankind, so we should probably heed it. But then I hear you shout the inquiry "But how can we jihad if we're not angry?" And to that I say, go ahead. Be angry. But only if it's for the sake of Allah SWT. If not, don't.

Next, we're urged to read the Quran during this holy month. A lot of people blow the dust off their household Qurans and read it during Ramadhan. Some would start tadarrus groups and strive to complete reading the Quran from cover to cover in 30 days or less.

But then, aren't we supposed to read it as regularly as possible?

"And recite what has been revealed to you of the Book of your Lord. There is no changer of His words, and never will you find in other than Him a refuge." al-Kahf [18:27]

After all, isn't it the ultimate truth?

Ah, but you pout and mumble to the floor "But I already read it every single day!" If so, that's great! Awesome! Keep it up!

As I said earlier, to me, the month of Ramadhan is a month of self-reassessment. Are we really the best Muslims we can be? Or can some parts be improved? I know I definitely can do with a bit of self-fixing. How about you?

May this Ramadhan bring us plenty of rewards and make us better Muslims in the future, insyaAllah.

May peace be upon you.

Cheers!