What if this was your last Ramadan?

What if it was my last Ramadan?

Wow, what a simple yet profound question.

I often wonder and think to myself, "what if it WAS my last Ramadan?"..  what if I were to die this year..what if I were to die next week ? Would I be ready to meet Allah? Would I be ready to withstand the greatest fitnah in the grave? *shiver*

My answer still lingers in my mind. I want to answer with an enthusiastic "YES! YES I AM READY!" but then a part of me steps back and reevaluates my current state of imaan, my current list of deeds, and the intentions in my heart. Are they pure enough to earn Allah's pleasure? Does my imaan make me remember Allah 24/7 and what about my deeds? Am I doing enough?

Questions, questions, questions. But where are my answers?

I realised I have been so preoccupied with other priorities, I had taken a step back with my progress with Allah. How easy it is to get caught up with our worldly affairs even if it means with just our daily routines and expanding our social network. How easy it is to replace your passion for your deen with your passion for the culinary, the social, and the arts. Little diversions will lead to bigger ones if you don't stop yourself in your tracks and realise "hey, i'm not spending as much time as I should on strengthening that rope with my Lord." But sometimes, the more diverted you become, the harder it is for you to get back on track and could you just imagine, dying at that moment in time when you are far from Allah?
I often ponder at the thought : " What if I died this very moment ? What would I be doing? How would I be resurrected" I now see the importance of always trying to fill our lives with Islam (every moment of our lives). Even if it is simply making dhikr of the tongue while cooking, reading Qur'an before you do anything or praying two rakkat before you take a nap or go to sleep. You are at least doing something that, if you were to die, you would die knowing that you remembered Allah every moment that you could. We can never physically prepare ourselves for our death, but we can try our best to prepare ourselves earning the Mercy and Forgiveness of Allah when we are in our graves or standing in line on the Day of Judgement. *shiver*

Time is precious and can you honestly say that you are using your time wisely? We are nearing the end of Ramadan soon insha'Allah, and if you haven't done anything but eat and sleep all Ramadan then it's time to start getting your act together as you never know if this will be your last Ramadan. I can't express to you and to myself just how important time is as it states in the Qur'an :





Time is a non refundable transaction in this dunya, but can be refunded to you in the Akhirah if you spend it wisely. This blessed month is a time for reflection, solitude, and strengthening your relationship with your Creator.


I leave you with the Hadith of the sermon that Rasulullah (saw) gave about Ramadan :

 Baihaqi reported on the authority of Salman Al-Farsi (Radhi Allah ‘Anh) that the Prophet (‘Alaihi Salat was-Salam) delivered a sermon on the last day of the month of Sha’ban. In it he (‘Alaihi Salat was-Salam) said,
 
“O People! The month of Allah (Ramadan) has come with its mercies, blessings and forgivenesses. Allah has decreed this month the best of all months. The days of this month are the best among the days and the nights are the best among the nights and the hours during Ramadan are the best among the hours. This is a month in which you have been invited by Him (to fast and pray). Allah has honoured you in it. In every breath you take is a reward of Allah, your sleep is worship, your good deeds are accepted and your invocations are answered.
 
Therefore, you must invoke your Lord in all earnestness with hearts free from sin and evil, and pray that Allah may help you to keep fast, and to recite the Holy Qur’an. Indeed!, miserable is the o­ne who is deprived of Allah’s forgiveness in this great month. While fasting remember the hunger and thirst o­n the Day of Judgement. Give alms to the poor and needy. Pay respect to your elders, have sympathy for your youngsters and be kind towards your relatives and kinsmen. Guard your tongue against unworthy words, and your eyes from scenes that are not worth seeing (forbidden) and your ears from sounds that should not be heard.
 
Be kind to orphans so that if your children may become orphans they will also be treated with kindness. Do repent to Allah for your sins and supplicate with raised hands at the times of prayer as these are the best times, during which Allah Almighty looks at His servants with mercy. Allah Answers if they supplicate, Responds if they call, Grants if He is asked, and Accepts if they entreat. O people! you have made your conscience the slave of your desires.
 
Make it free by invoking Allah for forgiveness. Your back may break from the heavy load of your sins, so prostrate yourself before Allah for long intervals, and make this load lighter. Understand fully that Allah has promised in His Honour and Majesty that, people who perform salat and sajda (prostration) will be guarded from Hell-fire o­n the Day of Judgement.
 
O people! If anyone amongst you arranges for iftar (meal at sunset) for any believer, Allah will reward him as if he had freed a slave, and Allah will forgive him his sins. A companion asked: “but not all of us have the means to do so” The Prophet (SAAWS) replied: Keep yourself away from Hell-fire though it may consist of half a date or even some water if you have nothing else.
 
O people! Anyone who during this month cultivates good manners, will walk over the Sirat (bridge to Paradise) o­n the day when feet will tend to slip. For anyone who during this month eases the workload of his servants, Allah will make easy his accounting, and for anyone who doesn’t hurt others during this month, Allah will safeguard him from His Wrath o­n the Day of Judgement. Anyone who respects and treats an orphan with kindness during this month, Allah shall look at him with kindness o­n that Day. Anyone who treats his kinsmen well during this month, Allah will bestow His Mercy o­n him o­n that Day, while anyone who mistreats his kinsmen during this month, Allah will keep away from His Mercy.
 
Whomever offers the recommended prayers during this month, Allah will save him from Hell, and whomever observes his obligations during this month, his reward will be seventy times the reward during other months. Whomever repeatedly invokes Allah’s blessings o­n me, Allah will keep his scale of good deeds heavy, while the scales of others will be tending to lightness. Whomever recites during this month an ayat (verse) of the Holy Qur’an, will get the reward of reciting the whole Qur’an in other months.
 
O people! The gates of Paradise remain open during this month. Pray to your Lord that they may not be closed for you. While the gates of Hell are closed, pray to your Lord that they never open for you. Satan has been chained, invoke your Lord not to let him dominate you.”



 If this was your last Ramadan would you be content with what you accomplished this month?