The Believers And Worshippers Of Ramadan: Muslims Or Hypocrites -By Mohammed Aliyu Baba

The Islamic calendar contains twelve months which make up a year just like the Gregorian Calendar. It is also known as Muslim or Hijri Calendar that is mostly followed by Islamic nations and of course, the entire Muslims worldwide. It officially started as a result of the migration/Hijri of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) from Mecca to Medina in 622AD.

The month of Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic Lunar Calendar during which Muslims observe fasting from dawn until sunset. They refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, sexual intercourse and everything that could cause the fast to be null and void.

In fact, it is generally observed that many Muslims usually take a break from their sinful ways during the month of Ramadan compared to other months. They tend to restrain the temptations of evil and cleanse their faith in the spirit of the month. It is the only period that some (if not many) Muslims become conscious of Islamic teachings, and serious in worshiping Allah (God).

Now the question is: Why should a Muslim be conscious of his/her religion and serious about it only in the month of Ramadan?

Does it mean that we only have season Muslim Worshippers instead of real or good Muslims that worship and praise God the whole year round?

God made it clear in one of the books given to his Messengers: Al-Zabura of Saidinah Daud (A.S) in Sura 22 that the believers should praise and worship him magnanimously everyday in the morning, afternoon and evening.

However, it is now astonishing to see some Muslims completely forget the existence of their creator (Allah) until Ramadan. Many Muslims engage in sinful acts such as shirk (associating partners to Allah), adultery, killing life/lives unjustly, eating ribah (unwarranted Interest), eating/hijacking the wealth of orphans, lying, stealing and many others, considered to be great sins in the religion of Islam.

Worst still, is the fact that some Muslims don’t take their five daily obligatory prayers seriously except when it is Ramadan. They don’t care to observe the prayers at their respective appropriate time despite that timeliness/timely prayer is made faridha (compulsory). You would see a Muslim combining prayers such as Zuhur together with Asr, Magrib together with Isha’i, and some even combine the four at a time, just because of negligence. Some don’t care to give Zakat (almsgiving) even when they are supposed to, and they claim to believe in Allah and his beloved messenger, Muhammad (S.A.W), the Qur’an and the day of reckoning.

However, it is these kinds of people you would see at the forefront of the Masjid (mosque) once it is Ramadan. You would see them with a series of long rosary i. e prayer beads to show the people that they are conscious of Allah and the teachings of Islam. In fact, you would see them around the masjid waiting for prayer time to come. You would realize that everywhere in the mosque is filled up because it is Ramadan. Who is deceiving who?

Allah (God) has said in the sixteenth surah of Al-Zabura that those that think they are deceiving him or people around them claiming to believe his existence, his Prophet, his Qur’an and the day of judgment (while in real sense; they are not) that they are deceiving no one but themselves. After all, he knows about the intention of every human being before he/she even conceives the idea and engages in any act of worship. Therefore, you cannot play smart with the almighty creator.

We understand the fact that Ramadan usually comes with a spirit of holiness for every believer or Muslim; as it is said in the Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 183: “O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so perhaps you will become mindful of Allah.”

Nevertheless, if you have the guts to keep disobeying Allah for eleven months and suddenly turn to be mindful and obey him and the teachings of his holy Book for a month, then you do not worth to be called a Muslim; at least, not a good Muslim but hypocrite to be frank.

Why should you be calling yourself a Muslim and answering the religion of Islam but praying seasonally; obeying Allah and the teachings of Rasul occasionally?
Why should you be conscious of Allah and the teachings of your religion only when it is Ramadan?
Why should you be joking about your faith?

The Qur’an is here with us permanently as a legacy and the guide in the absence of Al-Rasul (S.A.W). As another verse in surah Al-Baqarah said: “… the Qur’an was revealed as a guide for humanity and the standard to distinguish between the rights and the wrongs” (Bq. V. 185). Sadly, some Muslims don’t even recite the Qur’an until it is Ramadan; meaning, they open the Quran to recite annually. Subhanallah!!!

Now, you know the presence of the Qur’an, you have learned/taught about its teachings but choose to ignore everything, except when it is fasting period. Is this normal? No. So it is high time we change our ways for the better since our life doesn’t belong to us. The owner (Allah) can take it back anytime, anywhere and anyhow. And if we miss paradise for any reason, we know what it entails. And nobody promised us that we are going to die during the month of Ramadan when we used to be serious Muslims. Thus, we need to fear Allah, imbibe the teachings of the Qur’an and Hadith and be conscious Muslims all year round.
May Allah Forgive Us Our Shortcomings.

MOHAMMED Aliyu Baba is a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
He writes from Kaduna, Nigeria.
He can be reached via: aliyu0380@gmail.com