In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Over and over in the Qur’an, Allah ﷻ tells us about the ones who have Taqwa.
“And whoever fears Allah, He will make for him ease in his matter.” (65:4).
It is easier when there is something like Ramadan or the blessed days of Dhul-Hijjah and there is a whole movement - instagram reminders, podcasts, lectures, the community is full of reminders and encouragement
…but what happens after all of it has passed?
Do we now lay by the side waiting for the next “fix”?
The month of Ramadan is unmatched as is the blessed days of Dhul-Hijjah but then what happens after all of it?
Do we just sink in slowly?
There is a beautiful statement of the Prophet ﷺ to Muadh b. Jabal - اتق الله حيثما كنت - be conscious of God wherever you are!
Taqwa is choosing Allah ﷻ. And with the number of distractions in thoughts, feelings and action these days, it is not as easy as it may sound.
It is interrupting your scroll to pick up your Qur’an for just 5 minutes or reading the adhkar as you drive the children to school or working on your hifdh while you are doing the cooking or laundry or in choosing to get up for two rak’at of tahajjud instead of s watching some Netflix series that has you hooked. All these little moments add up.
Maybe you are not reading a juz daily or praying all our nawafils or maybe you find yourself unable to send forth any voluntary fasts. Don’t despair!
A sincere du’a whispered in sujud or a half page of Qur’an that you struggle through may be good enough for your spirituality.
It is hard when it is not in season but we must find our taqwa because taqwa is sweet, whether in the little or the big moments.
Just choose Allah ﷻ.