The Simplicity of Ramadan…

Besides the dates, aromatic iftars, warm family gatherings, Ramadan has so many characteristic features which sets this blessed month apart from other months.

One of them which I reflected upon last Ramadan is the eminence of peace that is a shared common experience for Muslims observing Ramadan. But as Ramadan ends, this sense of peace also dissipates as we get back to our usual lives.

Why is that?...I wondered.

There are a number of blessed reasons far beyond the scope of this article as to the reasoning behind the peace experienced during Ramadan, but here are some of my reflections and observations as a striving and reflective Muslimah 🙂

I think one of the reasons is because of the simplicity of Ramadan.

As a Muslim community, our true purpose and priorities as Muslims are more salient during Ramadan. So, we are more inclined to assess ourselves and reorient ourselves correctly, as best as we can. We do this by endeavouring to place Allah at the centre and make Him and our Akhira a priority. This means that giving up and shedding idle or superfluous pursuits, out of our routines and minds during Ramadan, feels easier because it’s in alignment with our correct orientation and purpose. It feels easier to restrain the Nafs when our actions, intentions, and orientation is in alignment and the Shaytan is not around to tempt us.

Greater simplicity, means that we are entertaining less choices. This means that there is more time and mental room for other more valuable pursuits. There’s more room for remembering Allah, learning about the Deen, reading Quran. Therefore, there is more opportunity for peace to flow into our lives from these peaceful pursuits.

Another way of looking at this is that entertaining less choices on filling our time, means that there are less temptations which fall into our periphery. This is because, having oriented ourselves to make Allah and our Akhira a priority, there is less of a craving for superficial entertainment to fill a void; our hearts do not search for it so earnestly. Moreover, with less temptations in our lives, this means that there is less opportunity for our hearts to be veiled from Allah. Thus, we experience a greater connection to Allah.

I find that I worry less in Ramadan. I think this may be because, more salient is the truth that this world is temporary and that Allah is the only one worthy of my worship. Although I have found myself to worry sometimes, I’ve challenged myself, and my minds been clearer to do so and there’s been a more lasting effect within Ramadan, Alhamdullilah.

In conclusion, one of the lessons which Ramadan has taught me is the blessing of simplicity. Stripping away temptation, choices, idleness, gives more room for a peaceful existence, as it allows us more room to reflect, remember Allah, work on bettering ourselves for the pleasure of Allah SWT. So, I wonder if more simplicity and modesty in our lifestyles after Ramadan can bring forth a similar peace into our lives which echoes that of Ramadan?...

These are some of my sketchy thoughts, and I’m sure as the next Ramadan commences it’ll develop my reflections. Feel free to comment on what you think and I would love to hear about your experience during Ramadan!