Pre-Ramadan Musings

Reading through the last few chapters of Qur’an, trying to finish before Ramadan so that I can start a new round of Qur’an reading with the first day of the beloved month, I came across Surat Annajem (the star) and I remembered the story of the prophet (SAW) surprising the non-believers, one day, by reciting this Surah out load around the Ka'abah. Taken by surprise they just listened and at the end of the Surah when he recited: "Do ye then wonder at this recital. And will ye laugh and not weep. Wasting your time in vanities. But fall ye down in prostration to God and adore (Him)." They literally prostrated. Yes all of them, even those who were the worst enemies of the new message. Yet somehow when they listened, it touched their heart and couldn't afford but to do what Allah ordered them to; prostrate. I remembered this story and wondered; why is it that despite I believe in this message that I don't feel this strong urge to prostrate every single time I read the Surah. I believe that I read but I don't listen. Allah talks to us through his book but do we really listen. Do we give him our undivided attention? Those non-believers listened and thus Allah's words touched their hearts. Still reflecting, I remembered that scholars of Sufism said that the sense with the most access to the heart is listening. We need to listen to Allah, to our heart and our intuition. Unless we take the time to listen we won't ever do what Allah wants us to be doing even if we know it and we won't address our soul's needs even if we complain about it all the time. We need to listen to each other to open the gates of our hearts to what others feel and may fail to say. Otherwise, we won't be able to love each other.

As I sailed through, I came across this verse “Has not the time arrived for the Believers that their hearts in all humility should engage in the remembrance of Allah and of the Truth which has been revealed (to them), and that they should not become like those to whom was given Revelation aforetime, but long ages passed over them and their hearts grew hard? For many among them are rebellious transgressors.” 57:16. When this verse was revealed the companions cried and instantly replied “O Allah; Indeed it is time”. Still, I wasn’t moved as much as I should. Feeling how dead my heart is, I jumped to the next verse “Know ye (all) that Allah giveth life to the earth after its death! already have We shown the Signs plainly to you, that ye may learn wisdom.” 57:17. I read this chapter (Surah) several times but I was never able to make the connection between the two verses. This time I got it, Allah is telling me that there’s hope for me. I can be alive again. My heart that wasn’t moved by his call as much as the companions’ hearts is like the dead earth before it regains life when the rain falls. He who can bring life to earth after its death can bring life back to my soul and my heart. I just need to expose myself to His “rain”. The prophet (SAW) said “In the days of your Lord there are “breezes” (gifts), expose yourselves to them”. The days of Ramadan are some of those breezes, gifts or the “rain” that can bring life back to my heart. Will I expose myself to them? I am determined to and I ask Allah to help me. Ameen.