By Shaykh Abdul Qayum
4 April 2025

﷽ 

Dear brothers and sisters, Alhamdulillah, by the grace and mercy of Allah, we were blessed to witness another Ramadan. Throughout the month, we saw the masjid full, the Qur’an recited in abundance, and acts of devotion performed with sincerity. May Allah accept it from all of us, Ameen.

Now that Ramadan has passed, I ask myself – and I ask you – how are we standing spiritually today? Have we maintained the connection we built with Allah, or have we drifted away? This moment, right after Ramadan, is a good indicator of whether our efforts during the blessed month were truly accepted.

The scholars have taught us that one of the strongest signs that our deeds were accepted in Ramadan is the continuation of good actions afterwards. If we carry on with our prayers, our Qur’an recitation, our fasting – even if on a smaller scale – this is a sign of acceptance. But if we close the Qur’an until next year, abandon our Sunnah fasts, stop attending the masjid, and neglect our five daily prayers, then we should be concerned.

Who amongst us would want to discover that their Ramadan was not accepted? May Allah protect us from that. We must make a firm intention to continue forward with the spirit of Ramadan in our hearts.

Allah tells us in the Qur’an:

This is one of the most uplifting verses in the Qur’an. When the believer is dying, and the fear of the next life grips him, the angels will descend to comfort him: “Do not fear, do not grieve. Paradise awaits you.” These angels will remain his companions not just at death, but in the grave, and on the Day of Judgement – so long as he remained firm in obedience to Allah.

Let me be clear, my dear brothers and sisters – Islam is not seasonal. We are not only believers in Ramadan. We are believers all year round. Allah commands:

Our worship doesn’t stop after a month. We are not given an end date except death. And what a tragedy it is for the one who limits his Islam to Ramadan alone. One of our predecessors was asked about those who are active in Ramadan but disappear afterwards. He said: “They are a people who only know Allah during Ramadan.”

This is not who we want to be. We want to be counted amongst those who live Islam throughout their lives – in their work, their family life, and their sleep, all done with the intention of pleasing Allah.

I remind myself, as I remind you, of the powerful hadith of the Prophet ﷺ:

The most beloved of deeds to Allah are those done consistently, even if they are few.

[Sahih Bukhari]

And he ﷺ said to ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘As who was known for his zeal in worship and fasting:

O ‘Abdullah, do not be like so-and-so who used to pray at night and then abandoned it.

[Sahih Bukhari]

We must not be people who start strong and then fall away. The one who truly loves Allah never tires of worship. His heart is alive with remembrance, and he finds joy in closeness to his Lord.

Brothers and sisters, every hour we live is a chance to come closer to Allah. Let us not waste time. The scholars say every moment that passes without remembrance of Allah is a moment of regret on the Day of Judgement.

Let us make our everyday acts into ibadah. Earning halal income, caring for our families, studying, resting – all can become acts of worship if done with the right intention. But this should never prevent us from fulfilling our core duties: prayer, charity, Qur’an, and remembrance.

Let us continue:

• Praying in congregation,
• Reciting Qur’an daily, even a little,
• Giving in charity,
• Making dhikr morning and evening,
• Fasting the Sunnah fasts – Mondays, Thursdays, and the six days of Shawwal.

May Allah make us among those who remain steadfast in His worship, firm upon His guidance, and sincere in every action we do. May He fill our hearts with love for Him, grant us the strength to carry the spirit of Ramadan throughout the year, and bless us with a good ending. O Allah, accept our deeds, forgive our shortcomings, and let us meet You while You are pleased with us. 

Ameen.

---

Help us complete our Phase 3 expansion for the new prayer halls!