Buy one get a thousand free...
My kid sister was craving pizza the other day, so we decided to have pizza for iftar. A quick drive later we arrived at a nearby Pizzeria named Pizza Inn that had a Ramadan offer - buy one large pizza and get another one of our choice free. An offer you can't refuse. We ended up getting stuffed crust with a chicken fajita and a mix grill topping (which were delicious I might add). On the way home it got me thinking, we humans like offers. Even if we are being swindled. Even if there are strings attached. Even if the offer isn't advantageous to us. We like things for free. We like more for less. Or the illusion of it.
Allah says, "The Night of Power is better than a thousand months" (The Quran, Chapter 97, Verse 3). Do you realize whats on offer here? You pray for one night, and you get worship equal to 30,000 days. Well, since you have to seek that night out, you'll have to pray for the last ten odd nights of Ramadan which amounts to five days. So pray for five nights, and get 83 years worth of non-stop worship. Thats more than the average life-span of a human being (i.e.: you could pray without stopping every minute of your life, and you still wouldn't be able to compete with the reward from that one night). Why do muslim's dislike this offer? Especially when we are not being swindeled. Especially when there are no strings attached. Especially when it is to our advantage. Allah is offering it to us for free. Allah is offering more for less. And its not an illusion. Its as real as the God you pray to. For even though you do not see Him, know that He truly sees you. And he's making you an offer you can't (or shouldn't) refuse.
Change a little...change a lot.
1. Pray. With all your soul. Not just the obligatory prayers. But also the optional ones. They are your IDD line to Allah.
2. Sleep. Not too much. Not too little. Just enough to make it through the day without being uncomfortable. It will give you enough strength to pray during the day and especially during the night.
3. Help your parents. In the kitchen. With the chores. With the shopping. Relieve them during month and in the months to come. They deserve it. And more.
4. Spread Islam. Not just to others. But also to yourself. Not by the sword, but by the pen. Through words but more importantly through deeds.
5. Smile. Its charity that costs you nothing.
6. Share. Food. Space. Air. The world. In the end, it belongs to none of us. Yet all of us need it.
7. Exercise. Even if its only a walk in the park at night. A jog in the mornings. A run on the exercise machine at home. Or a real work out in the gym. It'll keep you healthy when you overeat.
8. Have fun. Don't forget that you're human and have not been designed for worship 24/7. Don't overdo your fast, your prayers, your display of love for God. Allah made us fun-loving for a reason.
9. Slow down. Take time to look at the world you live in. Its more beautiful than you can imagine.
10. Love. Allah. His Messenger. Islam. Your family. Your parents. Your significant other. Your siblings. Your children. Yourself. On every possible acceptable level.
From his side...
Hahahahahaha! A son of Abraham made to murder and lie about it; a daughter of Eve made to fornicate under the influence of fine wine; a young man made to come out of the closet; a young lady made to gamble her life saving away. Not bad for a nights work. So many people to mislead and so little time. But the night it still so very young.
Whats this? Oh, yummy, a boy and a girl walking towards each other from opposite directions. Mmmm, this will be the icing on the cake. What should I get them to do? Perhaps get the little rascal to harass the lass? Or maybe get the little tart to seduce the lad? I'm so devious, I think I just earned myself a promotion! Hahahahahaha! Let me follow the two and see if I can make things happen in that alleyway. Time for the whisper.
Wait. No. No. Where are they going? They are taking the wrong turns. Not there you fools! No! Not the mosque! Why?! Why the mosque? Hopeless.
Argh! Curse that sound! The imam has begun praying...but what? Isha is already over. What is he praying? Can it be? Has it come already?
'Ramadan is here,' a voice from behind me.
And there they stand, shining goodie-two-shoes, the white knights of the heavens and the earth. Incorruptible. Noble slaves. They come in numbers. They come bearing shackles. And they come for me. How I hate being chained! Curse you beings of light. Alas, I have to resign myself to this fate, and go willingly or unwillingly, chained, helpless, locked up in my own home, and unable to do my job.
Nevermind. I will see you after a month, sons and daughters of Abraham and Eve. For now, you have respite and refuge.
The Prophet (SAWS) said, “When the first night of Ramadan comes, the devils and rebellious jinns are put in chains and the door of hell are closed, none of them remains open. The doors of heaven are open and none of them remains closed. And a caller calls, ‘O the seeker of goodness, come forward and o the seeker of evil, desist. And Allah has (many) who will be freed from Hell.’ This announcement is made every night."
- Reported by al-Tirmidhi, Hadith no. 618