As the curtain closes

As the attention shifts into Hari Raya I feel saddened that Ramadhan is again leaving us. At yesterday's Jumaat the khatib came close to tears saying goodbye to the blessed month. It was a warm and fulfilling tribute to the month which holds the greatest night of all, the night better than a thousand months.

I am also saddened at a other incidences as well, particularly how some Muslims practice their faith. Everyone I know don't have a problem fasting. Even my 8-year-old girl (who only missed one day-even then she ate 2 hours before iftar) could do it. Allah said that the fast is the only ibadah for Him. When you pray other people can see. When you pay zakat other people can see. When you perform the Haj millions will see you and thousands will send you off at the airport! But when you fast it's between you and Allah. You can cheat in many ways when others are not looking. You can swallow water when you're in the shower and thats only between you and the Almighty.

Now, many people would fast. Many people would do the one ibadah which is difficult to do. To refrain from food and especially water is not easy! So the faith of Allah is evident in most Muslims but what confuses me most is what about the other ibadah? I see a lot of people don't even perform their prayers regularly. They've showed their faith with their restraint but lack their other worship. That is what I don't understand. You believe in Allah but you don't carry out all that He requires of you? So what's the point? Might as well enjoy yourself and leave out fasting as well!

There must be certain amount of faith for someone to do something for God. That faith is already proven when you carry out what is required of you between sunrise and sunset for a whole month. Since you've shown that you have faith or 'Iman' in one aspect why not show your Iman in the other five as well. Don't remember them? Here it is:

• To believe in Allah (SWT) (God) in His Existence, His right to be worshipped, His Oneness, His Attributes, and His right to legislate
• To believe in God's angels
• To believe in the Holy Qur'an and the other Holy Books, (Torah, the Gospel of Jesus, the Psalms of David)
• To believe in God's Messengers, of whom Adam was the first and the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was the last
• To believe in the Resurrection and the Day of Judgment
• To believe in Divine Preordainment

While I'm at it why don't we remind ourselves of the Pillars of Islam as well:

• Saying the Shahadah
• Performing the 5 daily prayers
• Paying zakat
• Fasting in the month of Ramadhan
• Performing the Haj

So here's my point. You've done one, why not do the other four? You've proven your faith by performing one of the pillars haven't you? You're convinced that there is the existence of God so why not worship him?

If you felt offended reading this, I apologise. But I hope it got you thinking, at least. At most, I hope you start to act. Remember, this world is not the permanent one. There's bigger (but for some, not necessarily better) things to come!
This is writen mostly as a reminder to myself and my children but I hope you've taken something from it too.

May Allah bless us this Ramadhan and Aidilfitri. May Allah grant us the opportunity to spend another Ramadhan next year. May Allah forgive us as Allah is the Most Forgiving and likes forgiveness. Ameen.