What is the Difference Between Ramadan and Normal Days?
Important Guidance for a Muslim
The blessed month of Ramadan is not just any ordinary month. It's a special opportunity. But many people spend it just like normal days.
Let's see what difference a Muslim should make between Ramadan and the rest of the days.
What Are People's Problems?
Many individuals spend Ramadan just like normal days, too. The same routine, the same tasks, no special change. But is this correct? From blessed Hadith, we learn that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would start preparing one or two months before Ramadan. He ﷺ would finish His tasks so that He could worship more in Ramadan. What does this teach us - that Ramadan is not an ordinary month.
Allah says: "شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ" (Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was revealed). In the Hadith, it's mentioned that in this month, the devils are chained. What a great ease this is! It becomes easy for a person to do good deeds.
What Challenge Do We Face in Normal Days?
Look at the youth. We don't get time throughout the year. From morning to the office, from the office till night. Online work, meetings, deadlines. We don't get the opportunity to correct our Quran recitation, improve our prayer, learn religion, or know basic rulings. Then Ramadan comes, and Allah creates a natural environment. A person's heart itself wants to learn these things. What a great blessing this is!
The Biggest Difference in Reward
This is a very big difference, friends! In normal days, if you recite "Subhan Allah," "Alhamdulillah," or "Astaghfirullah" once, it has one reward. But what is being recited in Ramadan, there's a difference of earth and sky between that and normal days.
In narrations, it's mentioned that in this blessed month, the reward of voluntary acts becomes equal to obligatory ones, and the reward of obligatory acts increases seventy times. Subhan Allah! What a profitable deal this is!
What Should We Do?
We should benefit from this opportunity ourselves. Also, direct our parents toward it. Definitely teach our children, tell them how important this blessed month is. As many people as are under your influence, in your responsibility, definitely make some arrangement for them so they can learn religion and spend this month in a better way. Remember, we don't know whether the next Ramadan will be destined for us or not. Don't waste this opportunity.
Balance Between Worldly and Religious Education
Just think. How much time have we spent on our modern education? Ten to twelve years, then four years in university. In total, 16-18 years! And this is correct. This is necessary to live in the world. But when it comes to the Quran and Sunnah, the way of the Prophet ﷺ, can't we spend one month, two months, or a few days? For which we need to prepare for eternal life, no time for that? The world is also necessary, religion is also necessary, but religion should get priority.
Ajwa Academy's Role
Ajwa Academy is also active with this same thought. Our mission is to take religion to our new generation, highlight what religion is in its true meaning, and spread the Seerah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the world. Our teachers have spent ten to twelve years in their actual education, and they have learned religion formally so they can pass it on correctly. We provide classes on the web, you can learn from home, and your children can learn too.
Practical Suggestions
In this blessed month, set aside at least half an hour daily for religious learning. Definitely do some recitation daily. Read the narrations of Prophet ﷺ, study the Seerah. Improve your worship, perform it with humility and devotion. And include your whole family in this.
Conclusion
There's a very big difference between this blessed month and normal days. This difference is not just of fasting, this difference is of atmosphere, of opportunities, and above all, of reward.
We should fully benefit from this opportunity for ourselves, our parents, and our children.
May Allah grant us the ability to value it. May Allah give us the ability to learn religion and practice it. And may Allah grant our next generation the correct understanding of religion, too. Ameen.