Nahela Morales – What Can We Take From Ramadan for the Rest of the Year
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AI: Transcript ©
Feel welcome back to another episode here in about Islam. My
name is the halal mirallas and today we have a very special topic
because we are in a very special month. So I am going to give it
just a few seconds in order for our viewers to get the
notification with Nila. And people can start signing up Salam
aleikum, everyone and just give us a few seconds so we are able to
share this out
inshallah so
I hope your Ramadan is going well wherever you're at as we are in
the last 10 days of Ramadan
it's it's a very special time of the year but it also can be a very
lonely time for us convert. So we're going to be talking about
several things and I hope you bear with me as we are sharing this out
and hopefully you will get inspired as we say goodbye to this
blessed month in May Allah subhanho wa Taala grant us many
more Ramadan's and that is always the hope that we have as we have
seen, many folks did not make it to this Ramadan.
So inshallah let's, let's get started. I will be lucky
administrate and rajim Bismillahi Rahmani Raheem Subhanallah he will
be handy. Why should you allow Hola Hola. Hola what I should do I
know Muhammad Rasul Allah. So today we're going to talk about
what can we do? What can we take from Ramadan for the rest of the
year. So Ramadan, we know that comes once a year, it's the ninth
month of the lunar calendar. And so today, we're going to talk
about some practical things that we can inshallah
take outside of Ramadan. So
this month, I think this year, all together, it went by really,
really fast. And I was just in a Holika last night with reverbs.
And one of the things that I kept hearing and it kept echoing was
the fact that people start feeling a sense of guilt, right as Ramadan
comes to an end, or as we go through the first 10 days, and
then the next 10 days, and now we are at the almost finish line, we
start feeling a sense of guilt, and it's normal. But we shouldn't
let it consume us. And what I mean by that is that we have done as
best as we could for the most part. But if you haven't, then you
still have a few days. And that's what you want to focus on. Do not
focus yourself on what you could have done, but rather what I can
do today. And so looking at it from that lens, in that
perspective, inshallah we'll take you on to the year right. So
whatever you were not able to do during the month of Ramadan, let's
carry it on to the rest of the year in sha Allah. So we want to
make sure that our level, our level of Taqwa our relationship
with the Quran, if we have established one that we carry it
on, for the coming months for the coming days, you know, for the
coming hours, sometimes we need to step back and really internalize
everything that has happened in everything that is happening at
the time in order for us to be a better self and to be able to
serve better for us to ourselves, our families, our communities. And
obviously, you know, ALLAH SubhanA wa Jalla because at the end of the
day, you know, one of the things I believe we talked in previous
talks was stuck wa right. And if anything we take out of Ramadan is
understanding what taco really means. And so we're gonna break it
down a little bit today.
And we hope that this inspires you. And this motivates you to
continue this journey because our journey doesn't end with Ramadan.
And I think sometimes, you know, we are programmed a certain way.
And so we learn a certain way, and we have to unlearn and reprogram
ourselves in order for us to have that mercy and that compassion and
forgiveness for ourselves that we are seeking from our Creator. So
sometimes we are so hard on ourselves and we tend to forget
that the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate, the most forgiving.
Is Allah subhanho wa Taala and all these attributes we are taught as
we come into the faith or if you're born into the faith, you
know the Koran with the exception of an im
you know, it starts with Bismillah have Mani Rahim. So he is the
ultimate, most merciful, most compassionate and so that's
something that needs to always be on the back of our mind.
mine's right. So, um,
let me backtrack and let me share a little bit of what this Ramadan
has looked like for someone like me, I'm still a teenager so I'm
still in my teens, I will be celebrating a shahada anniversary,
the last day of this Ramadan. And so that's when I embrace this slam
hamdulillah and every year we set goals, and every year we hope to
meet those goals. But what happens when we don't meet those goals and
what can we do after and this is essentially what this talk
hopefully will be. And I asked the loss of hundreds Allah to inspire
us to continue with this journey with you know, as best as we can.
And with that, that solace and that that mercy and that we need
in order to inshallah make it one day to him. So, when we talk about
taqwa, we talk about you know, some people have defined it as
God conscious God fearing.
And so I personally, this Ramadan, Subhan, Allah or a few days before
Ramadan, one of our teachers, explained taqwa in a very simple
way where it really like, accumulates everything. And
sometimes we get into the the more, the more detailed but taqwa
in essence, is doing what Allah what is pleasing to Allah in a
short, sweet answer is doing what is pleasing to Allah, and staying
away from what is displeasing. And we can take it as simple as you
know, Allah tells us in the Quran,
you know, eat from what is good, right? So he gives us options, and
he tells us how to nourish our bodies. These are temples, how to
take care of our bodies. And so when he says, Eat, what is what
eat of what is good, or from what is good. He's saying, you know,
we're going to take care of his body by giving them proper
nutritious vegetables, and so on and so forth. He didn't say, like,
just eat vegetables and leaves. You know, but those who choose to
do so that's, that's their prerogative. But like,
essentially, we need to stay away from things that harm our bodies.
And I'll give you a very brief example that perhaps we can all
relate to soda or chips, things that are manmade and have a lot of
preservatives and a lot of junk in it was, that's one of the things
that when you when you think about that, if from what is good, is
that really good for our bodies is is that going to do harm for us as
simple as that, right? So staying away from what is good and
and you know, indulging in what is is good is important. And staying
away from what is not good is also equally important. And that's
where Taqwa comes in, right? So, when we think about Ramadan, we
think about transformation, we want to change everything in 30
days, we want to memorize X amount of IEOs and sutras. Or perhaps we
want to read the entire Koran not once but twice. And when we think
of attainable goals, is that really attainable? And is that
going to carry on to the next Ramadan, or our Koran is going to
get dust and we'll pick it up again from the shelf, the next
Ramadan. So these are things that we need to be mindful. And when we
talk about these goals, we need to make sure that we are making those
goals and understanding this this aspect of Taqwa in a very holistic
and healthy way. So balancing it out, you know, what works for me
may not work for someone that converted, you know, a few months
ago, a few days ago, or even perhaps, a couple of decades ago.
What works for me is my journey. It's my relationship with Allah
subhana wa Tada. And so we need to make sure that we are
we are feeding our souls, our minds or bodies, to make sure to
get closer to our creator in the most balanced way. Like Allah
subhanho wa Taala does not intend to make this Deen this way of
life. Hard at all whatsoever. Allah wants us to actually enjoy
our relationship with Him, right when we stand five times a day in
prayer, it's not out of burdensome as a matter of fact,
If you should see it as
you should see it as a recharge, like as my connection as I have
five times a day where I connect with my Creator and I just shut
everything down, not like oh my god, it's gonna be awesome, it's
gonna be Maghrib it's gonna be, oh, like, it shouldn't be a
burden, it should be a moment of Sakina of tranquillity of that
moment where you are in front of your Lord and whatever is
happening, whatever noises happening outside or inside your
head, you just stand in front of your Creator. And you're like,
Okay, I'm putting everything my trust might the Wakil my full
trust in you. And I know you you have my back. So, this is this is
what Allah subhanaw taala is, is looking from us, right? He He
created us in two nations and tribes to get to know one another
and he created us to worship him. That's essentially two of the most
important things in my book, right when I think about what is my
purpose in life
my purpose in life is to worship Allah subhanaw taala and my
purpose in life is to get to know my neighbors to get to know those
around me to make sure that I am at sir of service to his creation
as well as to him. And so when we're talking about you know, this
this topic in particular, many people feel like I'm not able to,
to really take whatever was in Ramadan outside of Ramadan. So
let's talk about fasting because this is the month of the Quran.
This is the month of fasting if anything, we were to take out of
Ramadan in sha Allah is that connection you had with a lot
during Ramadan? There was a convert that said you know,
during Ramadan, I do it all. I am full force because outside of
Ramadan, I don't have that discipline and I just can't and so
we're human and we're bound to make mistakes. We're bound to.
Okay, I think I'm back. Inshallah, I think I left for a second. Okay.
So
as I was saying, you know, sometimes we need a certain amount
of discipline during during Ramadan and Ramadan gives us that
on hamdulillah gives us that discipline and for this brother in
particular new convert, he was basically struggling and struggles
throughout Ramadan, but Ramadan gives them that discipline and
that connection spiritually, mentally and physically with Allah
subhanho wa taala. And so that's why it's so important for us to
also not judge anyone's journey and just focus on our journey.
That's the most important thing. Oftentimes, we see people coming
to the masjid only in Ramadan, or we see people only praying during
Ramadan, that's none of our business, whatever any individual
does, if anything, we need to be there to facilitate to help to
uplift and empower our fellow brothers and sisters. So looking
at someone else, you know, when we point this way, there's three
fingers pointing at us. So we need to make sure that we focus on our
relationship and so, you know, one of the main objectives
during Ramadan is that closeness with our Creator and so what does
that look like for everyone? It's different, it's different. You
know, for some people, they get attached to the Quran for some
people, they begin praying for some people, you know, fasting is
the most difficult thing. While there's other people that cannot
fast because they're ill because they're, you know, they're their
new mothers. Or, you know, they're pregnant and it's very difficult
for them so there's different different reasons why individuals
don't fast and so that's a struggle that's a jihad in itself
right for us that we are blessed. And we have the health to to fast
we should be very grateful, and we should not take it for granted.
Throughout this Ramadan I've also heard you know, sisters and
brothers saying how difficult Ramadan is how difficult fasting
is, so
One of the things I hope that we're able to take away from
Ramadan for the rest of the year is how you felt when you were
fasting, right? What a whether it was difficult, whether it was easy
whether it was a moment of reflection, if anything, take
fasting away with you. That's like number one. Number two, I would
say Well number one, let me see take take fasting with you. So we
know that there's certain days and shall while is around the corner,
so we have an opportunity of fasting, six days of Shabbat right
after Ramadan, after we do our celebration of Eid. And then
inshallah you know, from there onwards after you're done with
your makeup for the sisters, you have to make up your days in case
you don't know. So we don't fast during our menses but we count the
days that we did not fast and then we make up those days.
And once you do that you do your show or we still can carry on our
fasting throughout Ramadan because Allah has blessed us with fasting
sunnah sunnah fasting right with our Prophet salallahu Salam so we
can fast Monday and Thursday or we can fast the white days and
there's going to be other occasions where we can actually
fast as well such as out of thoughts and so many other days
throughout the year.
So inshallah take you away from Ramadan, you want to take fasting
make that make that part of your spiritual journey, whether it's
one day a week Subhan Allah recently in recent years, science
has found that fasting intermediate fasting is very good
for your health.
And yet, we we've been fasting for for over 1400 years ago and
beyond, right, because this was prescribed to other to other
people before us. And so Inshallah, fasting is one of them,
make sure that you carry it on, and you make those connections.
Last night as we were in the Holocaust, one of the brothers who
converted right before Ramadan and has been doing Ramadan, he
mentioned how he's going to miss the fellowship, the community, the
Brotherhood, you know, of what Ramadan brings. So
make sure that you carry that onwards that you continue to
nourish those relationships that you build during Ramadan, so it
doesn't have to end there, right. So our fast, have a buddy system,
create something that works for you in the sense that will get you
closer to your Creator, whether it's okay find someone that will
do this with you to make it easy and you can go break fast with
them. So not only are you you know, building a good relationship
but your foundation especially if you're new into the faith, but
you're also getting closer to a lot and you're getting blessings
for you know submitting to your Creator in this in this line. So
fasting try to take fasting outside of Ramadan and make that a
habit make that a way of life part of your way of life. You don't
have to wait till Ramadan too fast. So inshallah I hope that
that that helps. And I hope that we're all able to get into that
mode after Ramadan, I know that Ramadan, it's easier because you
know that 1.8 billion Muslims are fasting and so just knowing that
brings a sense of, you know, comfortness and knowing that my
brother and he ran or you rack or you know, Palestine or Mexico
because there's Muslims all over the globe. And so knowing that
everyone is fasting, obviously is much, much easier. So take
fasting, if anything you take this year, take fasting fast one once a
month, once, once a week, whatever that is.
For the for the sake of Allah right.
As we continue, I mean that relationship if you establish some
type of relationship. So number two is some type of relationship
with the Quran. Don't put the Koran down. And I know I keep
saying this and this is a reminder for myself first and foremost. So
everything I'm telling you, it's for myself first and foremost. But
yes, if we've established that connection with the Quran, and you
are, you know, diligently picking up the Quran after fajr or during
the day, make sure that that relationship continues because
this is your relationship with the Quran. And so, this is our guide.
I like to look at the Quran as our compass. Anytime that you feel
lost, you feel distressed, you feel broken. You feel like nothing
can rectify what's happening. When I personally open the Koran, and I
open and start reading and wherever it opens. Normally nine
out of 10 I kid you not the answer is there. This is our guy
This is our campus we should be using it inshallah a bit more and
making sure that that connection with with our Koran that journey
that we have with it we don't put it down until next Ramadan so
that's number two you can take this outside of Ramadan. So we
said taking fasting is important outside of Ramadan that
relationship with
insha Allah with, with Ramadan taking that relationship with the
Quran, I would say number three, you know we are in the last 10
days of Ramadan Alhamdulillah. And tomorrow is another odd night. But
nevertheless, you know, we should not say Oh, I'm only going to be
good on the odd nights we should carry out all 10 days but even
outside of Ramadan. So normally, we are encouraged to give charity
during the last 10 during the entire month of Ramadan. But some
of us and some of some individuals in particular focus on the last 10
nights and we're highly encouraged to give even if it's $1 One pound
one peso, whatever your money currency is one every single night
during the last 10 nights because we understand that it's multiplied
it could be multiplied, you know, hundreds if not 1000s of times. So
outside of Ramadan, make sure that you continue to be charitable,
even if it's you know, on Joomla make sure that you drop something
in the box or if you hear of someone that is in need, you know
or you're in the street and all you have is a smile that is
charity. So making sure that we exercise. All of this outside of
Ramadan will also increase that Taqwa it will increase that love
for one another that love for the deen those relationships. So it's
important for us to continue this and
and obviously make it a habit. Make it a habit to always check on
each other check on your your family, of course, check on your
neighbors and your friends, and so on and so forth.
In sha Allah. So we talked about fasting, we talked about the
Koran, we talked about charity, and again, you don't have to have
millions in order to give we understand that the prophets Allah
when he was salam, he has told us and many of us know this very,
very well that charity is a smile, smiling is charity. So let's make
sure that we continue to most most places are not wearing masks
anymore. So now you can actually flaunt that smile, inshallah. And
you never know what that smile can do. I know I've been sometimes
down and if somebody smiles and gives me salons, it it really
builds up my spirit, and it gets me on a very good mood. And so you
just have no idea how much impact you have until you start doing it.
Inshallah, and if we go outside of our own community and outside of
our family, you know, I've done different social experiments where
I've actually gone into groceries, and I've said, you know, today,
anywhere I go, I'm gonna say good morning, good afternoon. And this
should be all the time, right? But sometimes we're so busy. And we
tend to just kind of walk like, you know, like horses, and just
look straight, and our mind is going 10,000 miles per hour. And
so I've done social experiments where I've actually, you know,
engage with people
and helped out people and it really makes a difference. It
makes a huge difference. Remember that we are ambassadors of the
faith. We are ambassadors of Islam. So anytime we are in
public, obviously for sisters, it's a little more more visible
with our headscarves. And if you were you know, the Islamic attire,
what have you just started jabs, speak volumes. So we are
ambassadors and we need to make sure that we're putting our best
foot forward because whether we like it or not, we are
representing each other they're not going to remember me by name,
but they will remember that Muslim and so that's something to always
be very mindful about when we are out.
In in society Inshallah, right.
So we need to also make sure that outside of Ramadan, we continue
and we try you know, to with that relationship of Allah, we continue
to ask for forgiveness oftentimes we think oh the month of Mercy The
month of the Quran, but you need to that relationship with Allah is
also getting closer to him by
by being humble and and having the humility to anytime that you have
done wrong or what have you, knowing that you're creating
We'll forgive you and so making that a habit you know even if you
haven't done anything wrong but even after Salah you know just
saying stuff or a lot of stuff or a lot of stuff for Allah, you're
actually asking a lot to forgive you and so making that habit
there's a lot of reward in that and there's it brings a lot of
tranquillity as well in one soul to know that the All Merciful all
forgiving is there at any given time. And so we don't have to wait
till Ramadan to ask for forgiveness. So we can make that
part of our exit after Ramadan, you know, and make sure that we
continue to do this, we ask for forgiveness. So we've mentioned
fasting, we've mentioned Koran, we've mentioned charity, and we
mentioned asking for forgiveness.
We also need to implement obviously, when, when we are
talking about
South Africa, you know, we we need to make sure that we continue to
do this
consistent consistently, as I said,
and even if it's small and so again, it's repeating myself but I
just, I just hear this a lot that I don't have money or I don't have
anything to give. So Allah loves consistency, right? So he loves
when we are consistent with our prayers when we are consistent
with reading the Quran when we are consistent,
you know, in our fast when we are consistent and charity so make
sure that even if it's small that you are consistent in all of these
parts that I just mentioned, inshallah and so, that way, you
will not feel like
a burden or like I can do this
and then inshallah it will it will increase, increase that, that
taqwa in that relationship, because at the end of the day, we
have to remember that we are here for a very short time
and we all have an expiration date, right? We don't know when
that expiration date will come. But inshallah we want to make sure
we are doing everything that is pleasing to our Creator and we are
staying away what is not pleasing to our Creator and so one of the
things I always asked myself if today was the day am I ready? Are
my slot if my prayers are on check is everything on check. So you
know how the Imam always says pray as if it was your last prayer, I
always tell myself you know, do as much as you can as if it was your
last day on this earth you know and dunya and so the same goes
with Ramadan you know, take Ramadan take these last few days
that we have as if it's your last Ramadan but don't end it there
because obviously if you're still alive after Ramadan, you want to
carry on for the rest of the year inshallah and I hope that that is
of benefit to everyone
you know, and then after Eid we want to keep that momentum right
after Eid
to to make sure we increase and making this a better world. So we
are known as one of the most charitable entities as a whole
right I know here in the US we are feeding the homeless we are
feeding the poor charity is just going and flowing and it's visible
so people can see it. There's been articles written there's been
interviews done on TV how Ramadan brings hearts together communities
together there's been interfaith if stars and what have you. Let's
continue that after Ramadan as well. Let's continue getting to
know one another. Let's continue inviting those that we invited
during Ramadan and cultivating those relationships. In order for
our OMA to become stronger. You know, something Subhanallah that
happened this Ramadan with our group of embrace
their will there's these two sisters that actually
took the time and the effort to come to Dallas, Texas to spend the
last 10 days in community. So they basically migrated
to a different state to make sure that they were getting the best
they could because the masjid in their area are very far number one
and number two, the mustards that they have visited
have not been very welcoming. So that takes me to my next point,
Inshallah, that, you know, whatever is not working for
someone may
work for someone else but be that that ally be that liaison that you
will be that bridge so if you are seeing something that is not right
speak up you know if it's at your Masjid if it's at your centers,
make sure that if someone comes to you and says Why didn't feel
welcome here that you take it to whoever you need to speak to to
speak on behalf of these individuals because at the end of
the day, whether you're a revert a convert a new Muslim born into the
faith, we are one OMA and we're supposed to be taking care of one
another and that's really what I hope that the message is today.
What can we take
what can we take from Ramadan for the rest of the year and it's
basically us, us ourselves coming out transform in the in whatever
manner that looks like for you. You know, again for some is a lot
for some started praying during Ramadan. Take that outside of
Ramadan, make sure that you stay on your prayers, if it's a
checklist you have to mark then go ahead and do that. Because if that
works for you, then that's wonderful.
You know, if it's if you really enjoy the fasting and the
breaking, you know, or opening your fast with brothers and
sisters, then make sure that you carry that outside, right. If you
enjoyed that relationship and how you felt reading the Quran during
this month, make sure that you pick up the Quran for the rest of
the year as well so you can continue that relationship with
the Quran and Allah. So it doesn't have to end with Ramadan as we are
ending this month.
We need to carry on for the rest of the year. And so I hope that
these points were of benefit to all of you. I ask Allah subhana wa
Taala to increase us in Taqwa. And I asked a lot to make this
journey, a pleasant one to him. And then we become people that are
compassionate to one another and loving and merciful to one
another, and that we respect one another and meet each other where
we're at. I ask ALLAH SubhanA Metalla to give us Aafia and for
him to give us good health and if wealth is what you're seeking for
us to use it and for his sake and in the best manner, I ask Allah
Subhana Allah to
forgive us and accept all our Ibadah our worship our good deeds
are fast and that he allows us to see many more Ramadan's Eid
Mubarak and I will see you all next month, just like a hair for
being here. Don't forget to donate to about Islam. This is possible
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until next time Salaam Alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.