By Mukhtar Oyetunji
There’s a common story often told by scholars about a group of people who found themselves in an unknown land where they were admonished by a caller to pick a kind of unknown stone(foreign material). The caller would then add that whoever picked the material in either small or large quantity would have cause for regret.
Not really sure of what to do, many picked very few pebbles, while a handful picked the pebbles in large quantities.
Eventually when the journeymen arrived a location, they found that the pebbles were actually precious stones of inestimable value. At the point those who had picked only a few pebbles began to count their losses wishing they had picked more.
On the other hand, those who had picked quite a number of the pebbles also fell into regret that they could actually have picked much more thereby increasing their wealth.
The similitude of this story is like that of Ramadan or essentially life itself, especially when we consider portions in the Qur’aan where Allah makes reference to people at the point of death wishing they could be afforded even the most minute of time rectify or add up whatever good deeds accrued beforehand.
Alas! There will be no such recourse as Allah says in Surah Al-Munafiqoon, Verse 11:
And Allah does not respite a soul when its appointed term has come, and Allah is Aware of what you do.
Its a no brainer that Ramadan offers the opportunity to pick as many ‘pebbles’ of good deeds and stand the chance of earning inestimable reward from Allah.
As a Muslim, we must know that every act carried out with good intention of seeking the pleasure of Allah is rewarded according just as Allah states in Suratur Rahman that the reward for good is indeed good. The Prophet (SAW) also made it known ‘every act of good deed is charity’.
Now halfway into Ramadan, a plethora of good deeds are abound with all Muslims in a race towards earning as much as possible. Many have exceeded their set targets of Ibaadat while many others are just on course. So much that a friend who had completed 4 whole Qur’aan befor the 10th of Ramadan wasn’t going to slow down saying;it is possible this were his last Ramadan, SubhanAllah!
For sure Allah(SWT) loves to see us Muslims in this state as related by The prophet (SAW) in a Hadith that He(SWT) would at a point in Ramadan pride in us (Muslims) in the presence of the angels who at the first instance of creation suggested that Men shouldn’t be created for the potential havoc they would wrought on the face of the earth.
Verily, Allah (SWT) entreats in many verses in the Qur’aan that we should strive to attain his forgiveness and Paradise. One of such is Surah Al-Hadid, Verse 21:
Hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and to a garden the extensiveness of which is as the extensiveness of the heaven and the earth; it is prepared for those who believe in Allah and His apostles; that is the grace of Allah: He gives it to whom He pleases, and Allah is the Lord of mighty grace.
Likewise in Surah Al Imran verse 133:
And march forth in the way (which leads to) forgiveness from your Lord, and for Paradise as wide as are the heavens and the earth, prepared for Al-Muttaqun (the pious).
Striving and exertions of Ramadan are almost at peak level now and with precious last 10 days gradually approaching. But even without taking into account the enormous benefits of the magnificent last 10 days of Ramadan still to come, there remain golden opportunities of good deeds to earn from.
Meanwhile, it is common for complacency to set in for many at points like this in Ramadan owing to a number of factors ranging from; lack of proper psychological preparation, physical and mental weakness amongst others.
At such point it behoves one to motivate onesself to kick into an extra gear and forge ahead with the rest of Ramadan. Motivation is indeed key in attaining lofty heights of goodness in this month and what better motivation could one have than the words of Allah informing that the reward of forbearance and patience is paradise and the pleasure of Allah.
Again, we must continue to remind ourselves that the month of Ramadan is one that is meant to test us to the possible limit in a number of ways. We therefore must remain strong and motivated while acknowledging that good deeds are a tad easier to engage in this period than anytime else, therefore slowing down or giving up is not an option.
We must reason along the line of the story of the journeymen and accumulate as much good deeds as we can have the confidence that Allah will indeed make of them bountiful rewards for us.
Also to all who have wronged their souls by way of sinning, the gates of Allah’s forgiveness are wide open moreso in this second third till the last 10 days of Ramadan. Seeking forgiveness and engaging in proper repentance is a top priority. We must be sound in the knowledge that whomsoever Allah accepts his repentance, he absolves of his previous sons and follows it up by showering his mercy.
We ask Allah to continue to forgive us and shower his blessings on us and our families while giving us the wherewithal to do more good deeds that please him this Ramadan and beyond.
Mukhtar Oyetunji
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