Nahela Morales – How to Increase Our Level of Taqwa in Ramadan
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honeycomb Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh welcome back to
another episode here in about Islam. My name is the healer
Morales. And today we are going to be talking about a very important
topic,
which many of you hear on a on a constant basis, but many, many,
very few of us know exactly what it means right. So today we are
going to be talking about that one. So I'm going to give it a
couple seconds, a couple minutes so people can log on. If you have
any questions with Nila, please feel free to send them and I will
try to answer as much as possible.
With Ramadan being only five days away, this is a very important
topic. So if you want to share out and invite others to join the
conversation, now is the time to do it as we are making sure that
we share this out ourselves and make sure that everybody inshallah
can benefit.
In particular, those new Muslims, those new shahada that perhaps or
going to be fasting for the very first time to this, this, this
Ramadan. So
again, today, we are going to be talking on ways of how to increase
the level of Taqwa during the month of Ramadan, which is
literally around the corner.
And I want to make sure that everybody gets a chance to share
this out and invite others to come and join us. So we can all benefit
Neela.
Again, my name is the halal mirallas and I am a convert for
those of you that may not know, I converted to Islam shortly after a
few years after 911.
And that was essentially my my, my
introduction to Islam. So I just want to backtrack a little bit as
far as even my own Ramadan. I actually went ahead and try
fasting prior to Ramadan but didn't know the nuance of Ramadan
and what it all entailed. So it was kind of difficult to not
having that guidance. So I'm very grateful that we have this
platform and that we're able to invite others to come and learn.
Okay, so let's get started. So today we're going to be talking
about ways to increase salam alaikum. Everyone that's joining
about taqwa and we are going to be entering the month of Ramadan and
exactly five days. So Ramadan will fall the first day of fasting will
be Saturday in sha Allah. So Ramadan will begin with Maghrib on
Friday. And so, we are going to be talking about the spiritual aspect
of Taqwa today, which is very important as we want to make sure
that as we enter
we enter Ramadan, we enter with the same excitement and inshallah
with a sense of transformation by the time we end Ramadan. So that
is the essential
goal that we make sure that we are of those successfully that there
was some transformation when with with throughout Ramadan. So ALLAH
SubhanA wa Taala tells us in the Quran in surah Al Baqarah. I am
183 He mentioned, Oh you who believe fasting is prescribed to
you as it was prescribed to those before you so that you can attain
Taqwa. So this is a verse that we hear a lot during Ramadan. It's
because of the aspect of Taqwa. Right? And so in this verse alone,
I pick out two things, two things the fact that fasting was
prescribed for everyone, male and female. So brothers and sisters,
it doesn't matter if you are if you are a you know, from a
different ethnic race, it doesn't matter if you come from a
different nationality. It doesn't matter. Any of that. The The point
is that fasting was prescribed for men and women for everyone. The
second thing that I get out of this is is that
it develops it like you, you will be, you will be gaining Taqwa with
this prescription with this fasting. And without fasting one
cannot obtain Taqwa. And so that is what I'm what I get out of
this, this verse. Obviously, there's a lot but I want to cover
as much as possible today. And so normally when we think of taqwa,
or when we ask someone what is tech well what comes to mind to
you
To me I'm normally as I learned it as a convert when I just embrace
this lamb taco was normally describe as God conscious or fear
of Allah, which both are correct. They're not incorrect. That is
right. Ultimately, what is Taqwa? And that's one of the questions
that we need to make sure that we're able to answer.
And in a very brief answer to that, but we'll get more into it
Taqwa I, my the way I see it is basically that we
we obey Allah,
with everything that he has ordained, and we restrain
ourselves with everything that he has prohibited, right, any
prohibition. So basically, engaging in Allah's commands, and
abstaining from any prohibitions that Allah subhanaw taala has
ordained from us. That is essentially Taqwa to always be
conscious that you want to gain Allah's pleasure of laws, mercy,
Allah's love. And what better way that during this month, the month
of normally known as also the month of taqwa, we also know
Ramadan is known as the month of the Quran, this is the ninth month
in the lunar calendar for us Muslims, that the Quran was
revealed. So there's a lot of layers that we need to think about
when it comes to Taekwon. Right now, God conscious, what does that
mean to us God conscious means that
we are always seeking for the pleasure of Allah, and we don't
ever want to get his anger, we never want to make him upset. So
if you see, there's a perfect example, if you ever see a you
know, harmful rock on the road, or something that you know, banana
peel on the sidewalk, you're going to remove it because essentially,
you know, you want to gain the pleasure of Allah and the way we
gain that is by taking care of His creation, and that will be
pleasing of him. So to avoid any time of harm to Allah's creation,
starting with yourself, starting with your family, and obviously
growing into your community, it's so important for us to be mindful
of this sense of God consciousness, right. And so one
of the things that, you know, we talk about, or we think about when
we think about fasting, is, this is Sunday, the third the fourth
pillar of, of Islam. So we have the shahada, then we have salon,
which is a prayer, and then some say that is the fasting. So the
third pillar of Islam. And so this is the one pillar, unlike the
prayer, unlike charity, unlike pilgrimage, as a matter of fact,
this is the one pillar that is basically invisible. And what does
that mean? That means that only you and Allah knows when you're
fasting, because I remember when my son was growing up, and he
would tell me, he would want to fast as a very young child, we're
talking about seven, eight years old, and obviously, they're very
young, it's not, it's not obligatory upon them, you start
teaching them and you don't discourage it. So if your children
want to fast, make sure that you encourage it.
Till whatever time they're able to, so, we started gradually, we
would start till 10am till 11 till 12, to one and so on and so forth.
And so Subhanallah you know, there was a time where I had to explain
to him, are you really fasting because he would put something in
his mouth. And I would say, this is the only thing that the only
the only act or the only worship the act of worship that only it's
between you and Allah and you know, if you're fasting or not,
Allah sees you. So why are we? Why do we restrain ourselves because
we know that Allah is all knowing, all seen. And therefore this is
the one pillar that is basically invisible to the world. Perhaps
you can say you're fasting, but only you and Allah knows if you're
fasting, you can go in another room and put something in your
mouth and come out and say, Yeah, I'm fasting nobody would know that
but you know, and you're conscious that Allah subhanaw taala is
watching us at all times. And so this is something very important.
Fasting is one of those things that teaches us sincerity right?
So when you know that you you are sincere with yourself with your
Creator, you know that obviously, you can lie to Allah so you it
teaches you that sincerity, it teaches you also that control in
that discipline.
against your own desires. And so one of the things I think about
during fasting, right that a lot of things that are halal, like for
example, normally throughout the year eating and drinking, and you
know, if you're married a sexual relationships with your spouse,
they're all * during the entire year. But it's this time specific
time where Allah subhana wa Taala is ordering us to abstain from it
right? To leave food and drink and desires to get closer to him. And
so when we think of when we think of that,
or I think of that, I think of it as a bootcamp, I think of it as an
opportunity of training ground right, this is an opportunity of
Normally we think we can do certain things, but when it comes
to Ramadan, and we're able to abstain from these things that are
normally halal, then we know that we are able to do much more than
sometimes we, we tell ourselves that we can. So
when when, when we think of Taqwa as well, and this is something
that I normally you know, discuss with some of the Sisters is
Allah is so merciful that He's given us these 30 days 2930 days
to inshallah get closer in that connection. So the connection with
the Quran and this is one of the things that we need to make sure
that we don't lose any any time because before you know it, we
will be in the last 10 days of Ramadan and the last 10 nights and
we will be wishing that we would have done more. So, I would highly
encourage now that we are only five days away, we still have time
those attainable goals that we normally talk about you know that
will make sure that whatever it is that you are trying to obtain
during this month, and obviously TOC What is the main focus for
Ramadan. But what takes us there, what are the things that will
allow us to gain this Taqwa. Right? So whether it's, you know,
increasing in your dhikr you know, if you're not a person that you
know, does remembrance of Allah when you're driving and perhaps
start doing this during Ramadan, so it becomes habitual. And that's
what we want out of Ramadan. We want to make sure that any bad
habits that we do have,
we put them away and not only for Ramadan, but for good, but we also
want to obtain some really good habits that will get us closer to
our Creator. And one of those ways is to obviously, make it a habit.
Make it a habit to always have your lips moist with the
remembrance of Allah. And this is your Hungary last panna La La
ilaha IL Allah, you know, just this simple vicar, you know of
gratitude and love and just remembering who is your Sustainer
right, who is the one that has maintained you up until this day,
and so Subhanallah this past Juma this past Friday, I was called and
I was asked to go and help with the Goosen for a sister. And as I
was driving, it really hit me because at that point, it was
eight days till Ramadan. And sometimes we get so comfortable
with life we get so comfortable with, you know, the way we're
running just on an everyday basis, and we think we're almost certain
that we're going to make it to Ramadan. And as I was driving
there, and there was a fellow revert, at the time, I didn't know
she was a convert. But when I got there, I found out she was a
revert, and her non Muslim family was there. And hamdulillah they
were, they were allowing for her to be buried as a Muslim and they
were respecting and honoring her faith. But I was as I was driving
there, I kept thinking, you know, Allah, eight days till Ramadan,
and this sister did not make it. And here we are thinking we're
gonna make it right. We're thinking for sure. I'm only five
days away. It's only three days away. We all have an expiration
date. When that date is going to come. We don't know Allah subhanaw
taala is the only one that knows when that book will be closed. And
so we need to make sure we work on the taqwa that we're talking about
that God consciousness that, you know, wanting to make sure that
we're gaining the pleasure of Allah at all times. And so yeah,
it really hit me differently. First of all, it was Juma. Second
of all so close to Ramadan only eight days away and here we are
washing the body of a sister I've never met but
I remember making a lot of DUA and you know, this is one of the
things you need to keep your lips moist with dua, right? This is
another way of active worship, always asking a lot to make us
better always asking a line these next few days to allow us to get
to the month of Ramadan to allow us to benefit to laws to change
our ways, whatever it is that you want to change, and you only know
that right, the expectations that people put on each other, we
should kind of put that away, and only, you know, make the plan for
whatever is attainable, whatever we're able and capable. You know,
I hear a lot of times, you know, people saying, Oh, well, this
Ramadan, I'm going to read the Quran two times, or five times or
it what is that going to do? I think that's the most important
thing. Is that going to get me closer to Allah? Or is that going
to get me more fatigued and tired and overwhelmed? And I'm not
really comprehending or I'm not really digesting, so I'm not going
to implement and so one of the beautiful things about our deen is
that we learn that the Sahaba used to learn very little out of time
10 is out of time. And the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa salam would
not teach any more until they learned it and they implement it
right. So this is one of the Sooners that we should really try
to make sure the Quran didn't come all at once. It came in
increments, because we needed to make sure that we grasp it, we
learned it and we implemented and we memorized it and we're teaching
it to our children to our family making sure that we are being
better human beings right. So yeah, that that was really
shocking to me this past weekend and so let's make sure that you
know as we as we continue to count down as we continue to pray to
reach Ramadan that we make sure that inshallah not only are we
taking care of ourselves but are taking care of our loved ones. If
you have children, make sure to get that excitement going because
that talk while you're starting to put that seed right of Ramadan is
coming Allah loves us to read the Quran. Allah loves us to pray on
time if you're not praying or if you're praying one prayer at two
prayers and increment by the time Ramadan ends you want to make sure
you are on point and you got as close as you could and you will
continue this relationship with with our Creator. Another thing is
that oftentimes we say hey, you know I'm only whatever age right
for example, I'm 46 years old. I still have a long life. No, we
don't know when that end of the closing book, we don't know when
that's going to happen. Perhaps it's going to be my last Ramadan
Allah Allah only Allah knows. And so we want to make sure that we
make the best of it, inshallah.
And so, duck Wha The word Taqwa by itself. It's mentioned in the
Quran over 250 plus times, right? So this is this is a so important
for us to make sure that we we are not just Muslims, anyone can be a
Muslim, but it might mean we need to make sure that we strive and we
strive for the pleasure of Allah at all times. So
you know, another thing that we don't often think about as Ramadan
is approaching as Ramadan is reaching, we don't necessarily
think of perhaps forgiving people right or swallowing our anger or
controlling our anger. We have it in our sunnah left and right how
the Prophet SAW Psalm used to take care of that and you know, he
instructs us if you're very angry sit down you know drink some
water. Now we have so many breathing techniques if that
doesn't work, okay lie down and so we need to make sure to start
emphasizing all of this especially during the month of Ramadan we
don't want to be fasting all day and then you're on the road route
road rage and then you lose it you know, the last hour you know
before you break your fast so this is what Turquoise is conscious of
Allah making sure that at all times you are you know connected
in one way or another and this is why I emphasize a lot on you know,
the remembrance of Allah keeping those lips moist with Allah
soprano Adana and you know listening to Quranic you're
driving you know, instead of if you're someone that listens to
music as converts, we come with the you know, Jamelia, ignorance,
we didn't know better but as we are changing our lives, we can't
get stuck in one place. We need to make sure that we are bettering
ourselves as we are getting closer to meet our Creator because with
each day
as that, you know, time passes, obviously we're getting closer to,
to meet our maker. And so really quick
five ways to increase your your your taqwa. And I'll just give you
a couple now. But
I would say get to know who Allah is, right? If anything this
Ramadan, if you want to get to know your Creator is by learning
his beautiful 99 names, and that alone will increase your top block
by volumes, you know, especially when you are in times of
desperation in times of trial, in times of test, you know, when your
funds are going down to remember that he is always up, right, he is
the one that gives him the one that takes so you we don't lose
that hope, you know, knowing His names and knowing who Allah
subhanaw taala is, will actually allow us and help us in these
difficult times to make sure that we are Inshallah, you know, not
losing that hope. And I was listening to a lecture, I'll go
back to this, but I was listening to a lecture in Panama, it really
hit home when the Sheikh was saying somewhere around the lines.
And I'm just paraphrasing, he was saying, you know, we all know that
during Ramadan, the shipping, but she thought he's put away, right?
So what happens when we still have all of that anger and there's no
shaytaan to blame. So what happens, some of that residue or
you know, is stays in us and the way he said it was kind of harsh,
but he basically said, you know, sometimes we have to shut down
within us. And we have to be cognizant, we have to make sure
that we remember that they're locked up. So whatever is
happening, you know, throughout the month of Ramadan, it's really
essentially us and so we got to keep
we, we got to keep ourselves on check and make sure that, you
know, we are not doing anything to displease Allah or gain his wrath.
So I would say like another very important number two, I would say,
you know, seeking knowledge, you know, you have 30 days, I know
life goes on, especially if you live in the West thing, you're not
in a, you know, Muslim country, or things shut down. I've been in a
Muslim country during Ramadan, and it's like life, life becomes, you
know, silent and quiet throughout the day. And then you know, as
Maghrib is about to come, you know, it's like, everything is
back to life, right? Lights are back on businesses are open and
what have you, we don't have that luxury here in the west. So I
would highly encourage you that those pockets that you do have,
whether it's lunchtime, whether it's a break, whether it's your
drive to and from work, you know, take the most advantage of
whatever knowledge whether it's a podcast about you know, a specific
thing you want to learn whether you want to listen to a lecture,
or perhaps just like we've been saying, just listen to Quran that
will increase also that Taqwa because you are listening to the
Quran, if you have the audio where if you're not an Arab speaker, I
normally listen to it both Arabic and English, because I want to
make sure that I'm understanding what I'm listening to, even though
the Quran by itself hits the heart, right? Especially if you
pick a recital that you really like, and has a beautiful voice
and may Allah preserve them on the shoulder and bless them.
So yeah, so knowledge is so important. It's it will help you
throughout your journey not only through Ramadan, not only now but
it also will help you after Ramadan. So continue to seek
knowledge. Don't Don't get stuck with just knowing you know, this
enough. Always try to strive. I always, I always say, you know,
when we get to a new job, we normally think about the next
position, right? We enter the job today we're on entry level, we're
thinking already, oh, I'm going to work very hard. I'm going to be on
time I'm going to do extra, I'm going to do this, I'm going to do
that. So I can be manager or I can be supervisor. So this is the way
we're supposed to or we should we should and what especially for the
speaking for those who come into the faith and even born Muslims
but we should always strive to work on our deen on our Islam
within ourselves making sure that we don't get stuck to just the
bare minimum right? And so, again, if you are stuck in only praying
your father Your obligatory prayers during Ramadan, try to
make sure that you start praying your
sunnah and so on and so forth. If you're able to do not burden
yourself but if you can go for thorough we this is also will
increase your tackler right because you will be among
community you will be among people that perhaps you've never met or
you have never seen and so just that sense of community normally
brings hearts together. And so I highly encourage if you can put
some time aside whether it's the weekend or your day off and make
sure to go to the masjid the field is completely different. Go with
an open heart Don't ever go there judging or oh this person only
came during Ramadan or this person only shows up for thorough we are
like we are no one to judge that is Allah's job. You are there to
cleanse yourself to make sure that you become better that you feel
that you know good spirit good ambience good you know surrounding
good environment listening to the Koran being able to pray. I mean
this year will be the first year in two years that we are heading
back to the masjid for the last two years we were praying at home
so make the most of it make sure that if you know you do hear
little kids crying or what have you be patient remember that you
were once too little and only only your parents and Allah knows how
we were right when we're children so make sure that you are patient
and make sure that you are not harsh especially to those
to those who perhaps are dealing with with whatever situation they
are dealing with. The other thing is you know we helpful when when
we think about Ramadan I know when I think about Ramadan, we always
think about charity, we always look for opportunity, ease. And so
think of habits outside of Ramadan. Are we only going to be
this way during Ramadan? No, this is supposed to be our bootcamp. So
inshallah we will carry this out through Ramadan and beyond. Look
for opportunities if wealth is not something that you have been
blessed with, but you have time this is also well so make sure
that you signed up for you know, volunteering, whether it's at the
masjid I know Masjid need a lot of volunteers during Ramadan.
And so that's also very important and that will increment your taqwa
as you are around other brothers and sisters in sha Allah during
Ramadan, and you're helping and you're gaining the blessing,
right? So during Ramadan, we know that our blessings increase and so
what better way than to utilize your time correctly, then by being
of service to Allah? Because essentially, that's where we are.
We are servants of Allah and we want to make sure that we're
making the most of it during this time.
So one of the things that always gets to me, right,
that
a lot we hear a lot of the Hadith and we hear a lot of the eyes like
I mentioned before over 250 plus the word talk was mentioned
Okay, quarterback. Apologies for that.
Okay, so we're almost at the end. Again, my apologies for that. I
think we lost connection for a minute.
So yes, so I want to really conclude with us making sure I'm
being very mindful that this month of Ramadan is it can be perhaps
the last month and we need to make sure that as we are fasting again
and as we're entering, you know, the houses of Allah, that we see
all the virtuals in our atmosphere in our environment, that we make
sure that we are kind to one another. You know, that we are
building that unity and that peace, harmony, that brotherhood
sisterhood, this is all what is taqwa? Right, always making sure
that you're seeking for Allah's pleasure. As you are staying in
the bounds where Allah you know,
you you, you are okay, you stay you abstain from anything that
Allah does not want us to do. You know, and you make sure that you
take full benefit of this. I'm sorry, I lost my train of thought
for a minute there.
Yeah, I want to pretty much wrap up with, you know, thanking all of
our viewers during this month, we are going to have a campaign and
we want to encourage everyone to invest in your IRA and one way to
invest in your IRA is by making sure that you include us as part
of your donations and your charity as we are working very hard to
make sure to bring more material and content not only for converts,
but for everybody to benefit. Inshallah so with that I will
close again thank you so much and I pray that Allah subhanaw taala
allows us to reach Ramadan and that we make the best
out of this Ramadan and that we come out better Muslims, better
sons, better wives, better husbands.
And that we make sure that whatever we learn in Ramadan, we
are able to implement far and beyond.
Please anything I have said that is good is from Allah subhanaw
taala anything that I've said that is not of good is for myself. And
until next time, Salaam Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh