Ramadhan

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. It is Ramadhan and as usual, the media will be flooded with what some people call Ramadhan Muslims. Subhanallah, I hope such naming stop.

Why condemn these people? Aren't they doing good? How do you know if they are sincere in becoming a better Muslim? How sure are you that they would return to their old self when Ramadhan is over? This Ramadhan could be their time to change, it could be their last, then would you hold yourself responsible should they succumb to your accusation and just cry at home wanting so badly to be a better Muslim but was deterred by people like you who had easily convinced them that there is no room for forgiveness because they sin too much? Who are you?

May I remind you that Allah SWT is the Most Forgiving, as long as you had sincerely seek His Forgiveness? Then who are to deny this?

I am not perfect, far from it. I sin from time to time, and I shamelessly seek forgiveness again and again, and more so in the month of Ramadhan. This is the window that I can totally focus on my ibadah during the 1 hr lunch break, the time I do not need to rush to buy food and rush back into the office. It is the only time, that come only ONCE a year, where in that one hour, I can give my time entirely for Him, to complain to Him, to seek from Him, to tell Him about what I want to achieve, about the help I need from Him. It is the only time where I wake up purposely in the last third of the night, an opportunity to make mends with the silaturrahim with my family, to eat with my family and to grab the opportunity to pray and seek for ease in all our affairs. The only time I get to eat together as a family unit during breaking fast, and the only time we all head down to the masjid as a family unit, together. In the same jemaah, together enslave to Allah, to seek His Forgiveness and Acceptance, then why? Why deny that opportunity for those who may have sinned before? Why?

I am happy to see some changes in myself, my husband, my mother, my sisters, my nieces and my nephews. I am happy for them, when they see the light of Ramadhan, the joy of Ramadhan. Something you can't get in other months.

I enjoy every morning when my husband wake me up for Sahur, for Subuh, and for work. I like how he ask me to hurry up and do my solat, so we can all go to the masjid together. I wished Ramadhan never ends because this is what I wake up for, to give all I can in the name of ibadah.

So what if I am a Ramadhan Muslim? At least I tried, at least I know it is in my power to be a better Muslim, that Allah still loves me and continue to guide me, in hope what I do in this month becomes a habit for many months that follows, to the next Ramadhan insyaAllah.

This is the last leg of Ramadhan, the last 9 days... Do not deny the people who wanted to give their all in this last leg. Don't. Instead, encourage them. And do doa for them, hopefully, this will make them change into a better Muslim, better than me, better than you.

Maybe someone else will pray for us, for us to be better Muslim too.

Ramadhan, ya Ramadhan.. I wish you won't end.

Feeling sad to say goodbye,
Jun

Wassalam.

Ahlan Wa Sahlan ya Ramadhan Al Mubarak!

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. Ahlan Wa Sahlan ya Ramadhan Al Mubarak!

It is Ramadhan already.. We had our first terawih (night prayers) last night, and it was an emotional one for me. It is the first Ramadhan without my father.

I keep tearing in midst of the welcome speech by the imam, I get teary when they say the salawat at the end of the 20 rakaat of terawih, I was an emotional wreck alright, especially after the witir.. all the salams, I missed my father. I miss having to find him, I miss having to chase him because he was heading to the wrong door, I miss kissing his hand. I miss everything him.

What made it more emotional was that someone pulled my mom's dress and wrongfully accused her for wearing colorful (it was blunt colors of bland turqoise and purple with marroon tudung, btw) apparel when my dad had just departed for a month. HEY! There is a way to correct people, and this is not a good way, This is embarassing for my mother, and it made both me and my sister angry.

First off, it is not mentioned in any hadith that a women in iddah (from the passing of her husband) that she should only wear white or black. There is no mention that the said women should refine herself to the four walls only, there is no mention of such oppression! Eh hello.. my mom went to the masjid, to pray, Not to dance and attract people. For her to mention such had made many hearts ache.. And my grandma had also asked for advice from an Ustazd if such women can still go to the masjid, and go out when necessary, and the ustadz said yes. IF the intention is for Ibadaah, then it is HARUS. It is not mentioned about restricted colors or any sort.

I was mad, yes I was. Then I was reminded of this article.

"“Kemudian Allah SWT berfirman kepada orang yang menuntut itu, “Angkatlah kepalamu dan lihatlah Syurga.”

Dijawab oleh Allah SWT, “Engkau pun dapat membayarnya, iaitu dengan mengampuni orang yang telah menzalimimu itu.”

I want to have a chance to be in Paradise... And I guess for that, I will be willing to forgive people. Even when it still hurts.. Even when I feel it is unfair. The faith I have in Allah, that his promises are true, then for that, I shall forgive.. I do not deserve His Paradise, but I am not willing to be punished in His Hell.. For that I hoped for his mercy.. To forgive me, and give me a chance to be in His Paradise along with my beloved family..

I am sure my father is smiling watching Paradise through the open doors throughout this blessed month of Ramadhan.

I hope the many days of Ramadhan ahead brings us more faith, more good deeds, and eliminate all bad thinkings and doings..

Yup, definitely, eliminate revenge, cleanse the heart and straighten out our purpose. Have a blessed Ramadhan everyone. May we continue to unite as an Ummah and do our Rasullullah A.S. proud.

May our family raise together with strength, unity and happiness always.

Wassalam,
Jun