مِنْ رَمَضَانَ إِلى سَائِرِ العَامِ: استِدَامَةُ العِبَادَةِ : From Ramadan to the rest of the year: Continuity of worship

أَعُوذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ۔

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

In the name of ALLAH, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

مِنْ رَمَضَانَ إِلى سَائِرِ العَامِ: استِدَامَةُ العِبَادَةِ

From Ramadan to the rest of the year: Continuity of worship

All praise is due to Allah, Who perfected our religion for us, and honored us by making us Muslims, and completed His favor upon us, and made us the best of nations. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad, peace be upon him, is His servant and Messenger. May the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him, and upon his family and all his companions, and upon those who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment. This is the recited verse from Surah Aal E Imran and its translation:

أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فاعوذ باللہ من الشیطان الرجیم- بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ وَٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ وَٱلۡقَـٰنِتِينَ وَٱلۡمُنفِقِينَ وَٱلۡمُسۡتَغۡفِرِينَ بِٱلۡأَسۡحَارِ

(They are) those who are patient, those who are true (in Faith, words, and deeds), and obedient with sincere devotion in worship to Allâh. Those who spend [give the Zakât and alms in the Way of Allâh] and those who pray and beg Allâh's Pardon in the last hours of the night.

Surah Aal E Imran – 17

O servants of ALLAH: Fear ALLAH and adopt piety and obey ALLAH, and take heed of the passing of the month, and remember with that the passing of life, for life - however long it may be - is but months and days.

O Muslims: Here is your month, its days have passed, and its nights have gone swiftly, and it was as ALLAH Almighty says in Surah Al Baqara:

أَيَّامً۬ا مَّعۡدُودَٲتٍ۬‌ۚ

[Observing Saum (fasts)] for a fixed number of days,

Surah Al Baqara – 184-Part

And indeed, the departure of Ramadan is a sadness in the soul of every believer, and its separation is a sorrow in his heart; If he was obedient, he hoped to increase his good deeds, and if he was disobedient and negligent, he hoped that he had a share among the people of obedience and good deeds. Indeed, the concluding duty in every season of obedience, for every obedient or disobedient person, is to seek forgiveness. ALLAH Almighty commanded the pilgrims of the Sacred House after they departed from Arafat, saying in Surah Al Baqara:

ثُمَّ أَفِيضُواْ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ أَفَاضَ ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرُواْ ٱللَّهَ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ۬ رَّحِيمٌ۬

Then depart from the place whence all the people depart and ask Allâh for His Forgiveness. Truly, Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful.

Surah Al Baqara – 199

After the prayer, our noble Messenger would say, “I seek forgiveness from ALLAH,” three times, and he would do the same while standing in prayer, as ALLAH mentioned in Surah Adh Dhariyat regarding the best of those who stand in prayer for Him at night, that they are

كَانُواْ قَلِيلاً۬ مِّنَ ٱلَّيۡلِ مَا يَہۡجَعُونَ (١٧) وَبِٱلۡأَسۡحَارِ هُمۡ يَسۡتَغۡفِرُونَ

They used to sleep but little by night [invoking their Lord (Allâh) and praying, with fear and hope]. (17) And in the hours before dawn, they were (found) asking (Allâh) for forgiveness, (18)

Surah Adh-Shariyat – 17-18

Therefore, the most appropriate way to bid farewell to the month of Ramadan is with seeking forgiveness, supplicating for the acceptance of good deeds, and asking for the mending of our shortcomings and the forgiveness of our stumbles. It has been narrated that the righteous predecessors used to supplicate to ALLAH Almighty for six months that He would grant them the opportunity to reach Ramadan, and for six months that He would accept it from them. This is because the need of the obedient and diligent person to seek forgiveness is like the need of the disobedient and extravagant person who carries sins; for the obedient person, no matter how much his obedience reaches, will not worship ALLAH as He should be worshipped, so he is in need of seeking forgiveness, which compensates for the deficiency in worship.

O believers: Whoever among you does well in his month, let him praise ALLAH for His guidance, and let him ask Him for acceptance, and let him fear being impressed by his work; For that is one of the things that nullify good deeds. Some of the Companions, may ALLAH be pleased with them, said: “Be more concerned with the acceptance of your deeds than with the deeds themselves.” As for whoever finds himself lacking or becoming lethargic, let him know that the doors of ALLAH are never closed, and that the seasons of obedience are opened only to correct one’s path, not to cause despair and defeat. ALLAH says in Urah Al Zumr

قُلۡ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسۡرَفُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُواْ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغۡفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

Say: "O 'Ibâdî (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allâh, verily Allâh forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Surah Az Zumr – 53

Let him hasten to return and repent, for the Lord of Ramadan is the Lord of every month and time. He accepts whoever turns to Him and comforts whoever is sincere in returning to Him. Moreover, the greatest goal for the servant is to maintain worship throughout his life, as Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon him, says in Surah Maryam:

وَأَوۡصَـٰنِى بِٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَٱلزَّڪَوٰةِ مَا دُمۡتُ حَيًّ۬ا

and has enjoined on me Salât (prayer), and Zakât, as long as I live."

Surah Maryam – 31-Part

And ALLAH says to the best of His servants, Muhammad, peace be upon him،, in Surah Al Hijr.

وَٱعۡبُدۡ رَبَّكَ حَتَّىٰ يَأۡتِيَكَ ٱلۡيَقِينُ

And worship your Lord until there comes unto you the certainty (i.e. death).

Surah Al Hijr – 99

The Prophet’s peace be upon him, work was continuous, meaning constant, and he said: “The most beloved deeds to ALLAH are those that are most continuous, even if they are few.” One of the greatest gains of Ramadan is that it teaches us to maintain worship, not just to be seasonal, and to continue obedience, not to stop it, and to emerge from it having learned how to remain steadfast after impulsiveness, to be upright after enthusiasm, and to continue our journey to ALLAH without interruption. It is not about doing a lot of work in a few days and then abandoning it. Rather, it is about taking from Ramadan provisions that remain, character that continues, and obedience that accompanies us throughout the years. Whoever persists in doing little will be blessed in it, and whoever remains steadfast in obedience in his life, ALLAH will make his heart firm in faith.

So fear ALLAH, O servants of ALLAH, and adhere to His obedience and turn to Him, the Most High, and if the paths lead you astray, then seek His forgiveness and He will forgive you as He says in Surah Aal E Imran

وَمَن يَغۡفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ

and ask forgiveness for their sins; - and none can forgive sins but Allâh

Surah Aal E Imran – 135-Part

أقولُ مَا تَسْمَعُونَ، وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيمَ لِي وَلَكُمْ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ، إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُورُالرَّحِيمُ، وَادْعُوهُ يَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ، إِنَّهُ هُوَ البَرُّ الكَرِيمُ

I say what you hear, and I ask forgiveness from ALLAH Almighty for me and for you, so ask forgiveness from Him and He will forgive you, for He is the Forgiving and Merciful, and pray to Him and He will answer you, for He is The noble righteousness

الحَمْدُ للَّهِ الَّذِي جَعَلَ الأَعْمَالَ بِخَوَاتِيمِهَا، وَالأَعْمَارَ بِأَوَاخِرِهَا، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، صَلاةً وَسَلامًا دَائِمَيْنِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَتَابِعِيهِ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ

Praise be to Allah, who has made deeds judged by their endings, and lives by their conclusions. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad, peace be upon him, is His servant and Messenger, may prayers and peace be upon him forever until the Day of Judgment, and upon his family and those who follow him in goodness until the Day of Judgment.

O you who fast and pray and are righteous: If the departure of Ramadan awakens sadness and hope in hearts, then wisdom lies in transforming this feeling into a permanent covenant that does not end with the passing of the month. So make Ramadan a school for the whole year; Fasting is still permissible as a voluntary act throughout the year, recommended on all days, especially three days of each month, and Mondays and Thursdays. The Messenger of ALLAH said

Fasting three days of every month is like fasting the whole year. He said, “Deeds are presented on Mondays and Thursdays, and I like my deeds to be presented while I am fasting.” The first voluntary fast after Ramadan is fasting the six days of Shawwal. The Messenger of ALLAH encouraged it, as if he had made it like the supererogatory prayer after the obligatory prayer, and he said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasted for a lifetime.” And indeed, in fasting it, along with this great virtue and abundant reward, there is training for the soul to follow obedience with obedience, and to hasten to do good deeds, thus strengthening souls on goodness, protecting them from the temptations of life, and making a covenant with ALLAH Almighty to persevere in acts of obedience and closeness to Him. Likewise, dear friends, take lessons from the school of Ramadan night prayers for the rest of the year. For even if night prayers in Ramadan have ended, they are still prescribed throughout the year, as ALLAH has described His believing servants with them, saying, may He be glorified and exalted, says in Surah As Sajda

تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمۡ عَنِ ٱلۡمَضَاجِعِ يَدۡعُونَ رَبَّہُمۡ خَوۡفً۬ا وَطَمَعً۬ا وَمِمَّا رَزَقۡنَـٰهُمۡ يُنفِقُونَ

Their sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Lord in fear and hope, and they spend (in charity in Allâh's Cause) out of what We have bestowed on them

Surah As Sajda – 16

He said, “Whoever recites ten verses will not be recorded among the heedless; whoever recites one hundred verses will be recorded among the devout; and whoever recites one thousand verses will be recorded among those who have amassed great reward.” As for the door of charity and feeding the hungry, the whole year is an opportunity for it, for there is a reward for every living being. And he said, “Feed the hungry and spread peace, and you will inherit Paradise.”

Fear ALLAH, O servants of ALLAH, and make this blessed month a beginning, and persevere in worship and obedience, for the doors of goodness are wide open before you۔ ALLAH says in Surah Al Baqara

فَٱسۡتَبِقُواْ ٱلۡخَيۡرَٲتِ‌ۚ

So hasten towards all that is good.

Surah Al Baqara – 148-Part

The Most Merciful’s favors are full of gifts, day and night. Whoever strives, God will thank him for it, and whoever sins and then seeks forgiveness, He will forgive him, for He is the Forgiving, the Appreciative.