Juz 10- Juz Gems
Assalaamu Alaykum! It’s hard to believe that one-third of Ramadan has already bid us farewell and we will soon welcome the next ten days which will focus on attaining forgiveness from our Lord. Tonight our mashaayikh recited the rest of Surat al Anfaal and a large portion of Surat at-Tawba. Surat at-Tawba was one of the last Medinan surahs to be revealed after the Battle of Tabuk and it is the only surah in the Qur'an that does not begin with the Basmala. A beautiful aya that resonates with me and encompasses all stations of the believers is found in Surat at-Tawba:
انفِرُوا خِفَافًا وَثِقَالًا وَجَاهِدُوا بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٤١﴾
“Go forth, whether light or heavy, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the cause of Allah. That is better for you, if you only knew,” (Surat at-Tawba, aya 41).
This verse is in specific reference to the Battle of Tabuk but the timelessness of the Qur'an makes it relatable to us even today, and especially in Ramadan. Ramadan is a month that is filled with blessings and may also be met with a tinge of guilt. You may reminisce of past Ramadans where you had the ability to excel in all of your spiritual goals. You had time to read Quran, pray qiyaam, memorize, volunteer, and host iftars. Now, you find yourself working long shifts at your day job and barely staying awake to perform a truncated version of taraweeh. You may be home with multiple children, tending to their every need while rushing through your prayers to make sure you get them done on time. You may be unable to fast due to health reasons and miss the spirit of the month because of it. Finances may be constricted and you can’t give as freely as you used to. All in all, you may be feeling the weight of this world bearing down on your shoulders. You yearn for that lightness again- that carefree attitude which didn’t factor the hours of sleep the children would lose if you said yes to that iftar invitation.
I want you to know one thing and to take heed of it. If you are feeling heavy this Ramadan, continue to strive. Continue trying your best and don’t stop plugging away. Keep saying yes to Allah when He calls upon you, as much as you are able. And know for sure that Allah is strengthening you. Anyone who goes to the gym to lift weights knows what happens to their muscles; they literally get torn apart so they can come back together stronger than before.
For those that are feeling heavy this Ramadan, remember that this is a season in your life that will change. If you can draw from the lessons the heaviness has to offer, you’ll find yourself fortified. Your capacity to take on multiple projects, to serve the community, to maintain a sense of calm in the eye of the storm will help you tremendously on this journey towards Allah (swt). These are the qualities that can only be gained by carrying the extra weight of responsibility. So, flip the script. Know that Allah is building your growth capacity and fortifying your soul. Once the burdens are lifted, you’ll come out of the gate running.