A Sunrise in Ramadhan

The darkness of Fajr seeps to a haze of faint light in the mid air sky. It’s mesmerizing how such a vast body can quickly change colour. Black to grey. Grey to purplish. A few minutes later transforms from purple to blue. Blue to a light blue. Strokes of white are beginning to appear replacing the shiny glittering ‘light bulbs’ of last night’s sky background. It’s hard to believe that the Earth’s actually moving because every thing happens in such a gradual way. SUBHANALLAH. The air is calm. Subtle. Serene. The birds in the trees are probably just arising for another new day. How beautiful HE creates HIS mornings; grants this light show to those who awaits HIS mornings. This morning, I’m among the millions of the show’s audience.

Watching the sunrise reminds me today’s a new day. a fresh start. And that I’m still being given the chance (by HIM) to enhance myself in all aspects. This isn’t just any day but a day in the month of Ramadhan Al-Mubarak – the month all Muslims await every year; the month where all good is brought forth; not to forget, the month where ALLAH’s words of guidance (Al-Qur’an al-kareem) was lowered to our inferior level here on Earth…

Not long from now would this sunrise repeat itself and expect that I have become a better person… Expect that I had learned something new, expect that I had contributed something to those around me, expect that I had done something for Islam, expect that I had fulfilled my responsibilities of the former day, expect that I had made an addition to my collection of ‘amal, and much more. There’s 24 hours left till the next sunrise. Haste! There’s not a second to waste!

always effort for today, as to be better than yesterday. Don’t let yourself today be the same as you were yesterday.

Words of an Ustaz stay carved on a thin plaque in my mind when he reminded several others and me, a few days ago, to always effort for today, as to be better than yesterday. Don’t let yourself today be the same as you were yesterday. With sincerity gleaming in his eyes he advised us to benefit the time we have while we’re still young, still in good health because time does not wait for us. We all listened and gazed into his face full of genuineness as he said that once you face an obstacle in life, that you cannot change, you will regret for not using time wisely; Once you fall ill and your ability to contribute has drastically lessen, you will regret if you had not occupy the time you had with beneficial practices, when you could have done so much more. TIME DOESN’T WAIT FOR YOU, my friends.

Over and over are we constantly reminded about appreciating time. Even ALLAH has ordered us to be careful with the time we have in this lifetime. ALLAH the Almighty has advised us about time in Surah al-Asr, which means:

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

By (the Token of) Time (through the ages),
Verily Man is in loss,
Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds,
and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth,
and of Patience and Constancy.

It is emphasized that humans are in loss – are nothing but fools – except those who use their time to do righteous deeds… Thank you, Ustaz, for reminding us to appreciate time :-).

“Oh ALLAH, please don’t let me be a fool in Your Eyes. Help me become a servant worth looking at by the day of tomorrow.”

Well … Tomorrow’s sunrise will appear, whether or not I am ready for it… WILL YOU BE READY?