It’s true. You and I may have not had the best Ramadan so far.
Perhaps we’re still struggling with certain habits, perhaps hearts are still rock solid, perhaps laziness hasn’t changed much, and perhaps eyes remain tear-less, but there is worse;
To doubt the enormous opportunity that’s now ahead of you to, not only catch up, but outshine others as well and be written amongst the eternally happy ones with Allah.
Imam Ibnul Jawzi said,
ﺇﻥ ﺍﻟﺨﻴﻞ ﺇﺫﺍ ﺷﺎﺭﻓﺖ ﻧﻬﺎﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﻀﻤﺎﺭ ﺑﺬﻟﺖ ﻗﺼﺎﺭﻯ ﺟﻬﺪﻫﺎ ﻟﺘﻔﻮﺯ ﺑﺎﻟﺴﺒﺎﻕ .. ﻓﻼ ﺗﻜﻦ ﺍﻟﺨﻴﻞ ﺃﻓﻄﻦ ﻣﻨﻚ !ﻓﺈﻧﻤﺎ ﺍﻷﻋﻤﺎﻝ ﺑﺎﻟﺨﻮﺍﺗﻴﻢ ..ﻓﺈﻧﻚ ﺇﺫﺍ ﻟﻢ ﺗﺤﺴﻦ ﺍﻻﺳﺘﻘﺒﺎﻝ ﻟﻌﻠﻚ ﺗﺤﺴﻦ ﺍﻟﻮﺩﺍﻉ
“When horses race and draw close to the finish line, they exert their maximum to win. Therefore do not allow horses to be wiser than you! Actions are by their endings and thus if you didn’t do too well in the reception, perhaps you may do well in the farewell!”
Ahead of you are the last ten nights of Ramadan, which means that the finish line is now so close. This is when hearts must break like never before at the doorstep of Allah, and if you’re true to Him then rest assured that you shall not be disadvantaged by your slow start in the least.
Ibnu Taymiyya said: ﺍﻟﻌﺒﺮﺓ ﺑﻜﻤﺎﻝ ﺍﻟﻨﻬﺎﻳﺎﺕ ﻻ ﺑﻨﻘﺺ ﺍﻟﺒﺪﺍﻳﺎﺕ
“What matters the most are excellent endings, not the faulty beginnings.”
Besides, in the example set by the Prophet Mohammad PBUH himself, his effort in the first 20 days of Ramadan was different to his effort to the last 10 days.
His wife, ‘Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said:
كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يجتهد في رمضان ما لا يجتهد في غيره، وفي العشر الأواخر منه، ما لا يجتهد في غيره
“The Prophet’s PBUH effort in worship in the month of Ramadan was greater than in any other month, and his effort during the last 10 nights of Ramadan was greater than before it.”
(Narrated by Muslim)
So, why are you shooting yourself down?
Why are you closing a door that Allah has kept open?
Why are you conceding defeat when your Lord is still inviting you to succeed?
O Allah, make the best of our deeds the last of them, and make the best of our days those in which we finally meet You.
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